Illawong: Norman Fraser charged over animal cruelty, dog Buddy
An Old English sheepdog named Buddy was so horrifically neglected he had to be euthanised by the RSPCA after he was seized from a southern Sydney backyard. Now the owner has been sentenced in court. Warning: Graphic Content.
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An Old English sheepdog named Buddy had to be humanely euthanised because he was so emaciated, infested with maggots and terribly sick from his owner’s neglect.
RSPCA inspector Tyson Hohnein was greeted by horrific scenes at Norman Fraser’s Illawong home on November 13 last year as he responded to a report of concern for Buddy and a cocker spaniel poodle cross named Rusty.
“Insp Hohnein located two dogs in a side yard and had immediate concern for one of the dogs, as it appeared to be in very poor condition,” facts tendered to the court stated.
“He was hardly reacting to anything going on around him, including a large amount of fleas landing on him.”
Buddy was so ill he collapsed as Insp Hohnein tried to lead him from the yard to his vehicle for urgent medical care, and instead had to be carried.
He was described as being in “horrendous condition”.
“Insp Hohnein could feel the grooves in the dog’s spine bone running down its back, and its rib bones protruding, indicating it was emaciated,” the facts stated.
“The dog was 21.5kg before having its matted coat clipped, and 18.5kg after the matted fur was clipped off.”
A devastating report confirmed the dog also had dermatitis from being soaked in urine, was covered in fleas, had overgrown nails, dental disease, and was suffering from significant maggot infestation.
“The maggots would have been eating the dog’s flesh and causing unimaginable pain and discomfort,” the facts stated.
A vet at the RSPCA’s Yagoona premises had no choice but to humanely euthanise the dog due to the horrific extent of its illness and injuries.
The cocker spaniel poodle cross Rusty, who was severely underweight, infested with fleas and suffering from conjunctivitis and dental disease, was treated and rehomed by the RSPCA.
Fraser, 56, pleaded guilty at Sutherland Local Court to aggravated animal cruelty against Buddy and five counts of failing to provide necessary care for both Buddy and Rusty.
The court heard he had not taken either dog to the vet or the groomer in years because he could not afford it.
Fraser and his wife had later bought a chocolate labrador who contracted meningitis when it was one month old and had cost the pair thousands in medical bills.
“I just got busy,” Fraser told Magistrate Les Mabbutt.
“I’ve always had animals – I grew up in South America, we had horses, the odd goldfish.”
Mr Mabbutt sternly reprimanded Fraser before sentencing him to a two-year community corrections order, fining him a total of $5250 for the offences and banning him from owning a dog for 10 years.
“Dogs don’t get to choose their owners,” Mr Mabbutt told Fraser.
“This is very serious – one dog has had to be put down and the other rehomed.”
Fraser avoided having to do community services because the court heard there were no available placements for him to participate in.