Miso Trifkovic: Emu Heights left his dogs to starve
Two emaciated dogs have been seized by the RSPCA after they were found starving in the backyard of a western Sydney home. Their owner had left them while he went on a two week Gold Coast holiday.
Penrith
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A western Sydney man has been convicted of animal cruelty after failing to give his dogs adequate food for at least two weeks and leaving them behind while he went away on holidays.
Miso Trifkovic, of Emu Heights, did not appear when his matter was mentioned at Penrith Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to failing to provide vet treatment and sufficient food to his kelpie ‘Milo’ and American staffy ‘Hulk’.
Trifkovic was ordered to pay the RSPCA $18,121 in vet bills after the emaciated dogs were seized from his property on December 24 last year.
According to court documents, an RSPCA inspector was called to the property on December 23, 2019 after receiving a report about the dog’s welfare.
At the time, the dogs were found in the backyard severely emaciated, with Milo’s rib cage showing and Hulk’s hip bones and rib cage protruding.
After there was no answer at the door, the inspector called Trifkovic, who advised he had gone away on holidays to the Gold Coast for 11 days.
The RSPCA seized the dogs the following day and they were taken away for treatment where they were found to be severely underweight and starving.
The vet found the dogs had not been given proper and sufficient food for at least two weeks, likely longer, and had ravenous appetites.
Court documents showed the dogs had been brought to RSPCA attention in September.
The RSPCA found the dogs had slowly lost weight over the three-month period.
After receiving vet care, Milo gained 4kg in five weeks, while Hulk gained 5kg.
In sentencing, Magistrate Brian Van Zuylen convicted Trifkovic of both offences and ordered him to surrender the animals and cover the cost of vet treatment.
He was fined $1100 and is banned from buying or acquiring animals for two years.