Dog allowed to die slow and painful death after Molendinar owner neglect

A WOMAN who allowed her dog to die a painful death in what is described as “the worst case of animal cruelty” she has seen is still able to own a pet.

A MOLENDINAR woman who allowed her pet rottweiler to die a slow and painful death in what an experienced vet described as “the worst case of animal cruelty she has ever dealt with” has not been prohibited from owning another animal.

Linda Tran, who also goes by the name of Cuc Thi, received a $1300 fine and was ordered to pay $1400 in vet fees after pleading guilty in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to failing to take reasonable steps to provide treatment for 11-year-old Maxy.

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The dog had a large tumour on his abdomen, severe conjunctivitis, infected ears and mouth ulcers when he was found unable to move by an RSPCA inspector on March 22, 2014.

Maxy as he was found by the RSPCA. Photo: RSPCA.

Magistrate Jacqueline Payne heard Ms Tran had been working long hours in the Vietnamese restaurant in Broadbeach she used to own.

She initially asked a friend what she should do about Maxy and accepted the advice that he was probably just getting old.

“He still eat and the tail still wagging,” Ms Tran told the court.

However on the Tuesday before he was seized by the RSPCA, Ms Tran said she did call the Animal Welfare League Queensland to make an appointment for him to be euthanised.

By the Friday he had deteriorated to the point a neighbour called the RSPCA who attended but couldn’t access the property so left behind a calling card in the mailbox.

Linda Tran leaves Southport Court charged with animal cruelty. Picture: Tim Marsden

The following day Ms Tran called an animal ambulance to collect Maxy to be euthanised that afternoon but still went to work despite his terrible condition.

The neighbour again called the RSPCA who seized the dog and were forced to put it to sleep.

David Funch, acting pro bono for the RSPCA, said there was no doubt Maxy suffered before his death.

“In effect Ms Tran let her pet rottweiler die over what the vet said was a period of several weeks or months,” Mr Funch said.

In sentencing Ms Tran, Magistrate Payne said she was “too slow” to seek treatment for her pet.

“The vet cannot say and I cannot know how long the animal was in the poorly state,” Magistrate Payne said.

Maxy as he was found by the RSPCA. Photo: RSPCA

Speaking outside court Ms Tran, who is now unemployed, said she treated Maxy like a “member of the family”.

“Somehow because I am working I did not take care of him a lot like I was supposed to do,” she said.

“Every day we come home without him wag the tail so you miss him — we got him for 11 years.

Maxy at the vet. Photo: RSPCA

“I love a dog but I don’t have time to look after them so I better not have one.”

RSPCA Inspector Sommer Heath-Crilley, who was the one who seized Maxy from Ms Tran’s house, said she was “very disappointed” in the outcome and didn’t rule out the possibility of appeal.

“A vet who is a professional in the field of animal welfare has advised this dog had a zero out of nine body score — you can’t get worse than zero,” she said.

“He was extremely poor, he had cranial wastage so even the muscles in his head had shrunk. He had severe conjunctivitis and excessively laboured breathing — he could not move on his own.”

Insp Heath-Crilley said the veterinarian who assessed Maxy had been doing RSPCA cruelty cases for the past five years on the Gold Coast.

“In her words, her statement, she classifies this as the worst case of animal cruelty she has ever dealt with.

“Irrespective of what goes on in your life if you do not have the capacity to care and look after an animal you should not have it.”