Two Labradors put down after shocking neglect by Illawarra pensioner Robin Harvey

Two dogs had to be euthanised after an Illawarra man neglected the animals for “possibly years”. Read what he told the RSPCA inspectors. WARNING: Graphic Content

Two of Robin Harvey’s dogs had to be put down due to ongoing neglect. Picture: Supplied

An elderly man is facing the prospect of a potential prison sentence after two of his dogs had to be put down after he left them struggling in squalid conditions.

Robin Harvey, 66, fronted Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to committing an act of aggravated cruelty upon an animal and three counts of failing to provide vet treatment.

The aggravated cruelty offence carries a maximum sentence of two years behind bars or a fine of $22,000.

Court documents indicated the Albion Park Rail disability pensioner had at least 10 small Labradors in his yard when RSPCA inspectors attended on September 1, last year, following a cruelty complaint.

The inspectors observed the pack “generally did not appear well looked after”, however, they particularly noticed a small female Lab standing behind the other dogs.

The dog’s name was Wobbles and she appeared weak, her eyes were opaque, her belly looked to be bloated and she had scars on her face and head.

Harvey said he wanted to surrender Wobbles and the inspectors placed her in their vehicle.

The animal abuser also said he wanted to surrender another dog, named Scruffy, who was unable to walk.

The inspectors noticed Scruffy had many of the same issues as Wobbles and reeked of urine and faeces.

Harvey agreed with the inspectors that the dogs were in “very poor condition”, however, when first asked if he had anything to say about them he replied “they got good appetites … generally well behaved”.

Wobbles was suffering from multiple scars on her face and head. Picture: Supplied

Scruffy weighed only 7.8kg. Picture: Supplied

He claimed the dogs had not needed to go to the vet, adding Scruffy had been struggling for “only the last couple of days”.

“I’m not making excuses,” Harvey said before making several excuses about why he hadn’t taken the dogs to the vet.

Harvey said he had conversations with his son about putting the dogs down, but he did not have “a lot of money”.

He also regaled the inspectors of how he thought Scruffy would be okay because a previous dog he had “pin pricked himself on these cactus” and was ”lame for about three or four days”.

Greencross Vet Clinic in Fairy Meadow. Picture: Google Maps

The dogs were taken to Greencross Vet Clinic in Fairy Meadow that day where both were euthanised after the vet concluded it would be “cruel to keep them alive”.

In the vet’s report, they said Wobbles had muscle atrophy, was dehydrated, had gum disease, atopic skin disease and ear infections.

The report stated these conditions were due to “gross long term neglect occurring over months, possibly years.”

As for Scruffy, he was suffering from many of the same ailments as well as urine and faecal scalding and haemorrhagic diarrhoea.

Scruffy weighed just 7.8kg while Wobbles weighted slightly more at 10.1kg.

Healthy adult Labradors typically weigh between 25 and 40kg. Harvey will learn his fate in March after a sentencing assessment report is prepared.

To report animal cruelty contact the RSPCA.