RSPCA demand more funding for animal cruelty on Gold Coast

THESE pets suffered at the hands of their owners and the RSPCA and animal welfare advocates are demanding more funding and to be taken seriously in the courts to deter animal cruelty offenders.

THE RSPCA and animal welfare advocates are demanding more funding and to be taken seriously in the courts to deter animal cruelty offenders.

RSPCA prosecutor Tracey Jackson said some cases seen to in the courts had effectively been laughed at despite serious welfare concerns.

Chyna the dumped Gold Coast dog. The RSPCA was forced to put her down and is now looking for her owner. Photo: RSPCA

“There are times where we are absolutely not happy,” she said, but added many magistrates gave appropriate penalties.

RSPCA SEIZE KICKED STAFFY FROM OWNER

“We had a matter up (in Brisbane) where a man, with enough money and resources to do whatever he wanted... dumped some chickens in the forest.

“They could be mauled by dogs, and they can’t forage. We found one (chicken), and it was so emaciated.

Zena, a staffy that was mistreated by her owners at Coomera. Photo: RSPCA

“The magistrate thought it was laughable and gave a one unit fine and it was like he was ridiculing us.

“It’s times like that when we’re just deflated. How do you expect everyone else in the community to take animal cruelty seriously?”

She said magistrates were not always bound by case law because animal cruelty cases only tended to get into the higher courts on appeal.

This meant penalties handed down under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 could vary.

Ms Jackson said there were also parts of the legislation which needed to be changed or toughened up.

“We’d like to be able to get prohibition orders without having to prosecute, for those cases where (jail time) is not appropriate but they might still need to stop owning animals,” she said.

A man has been captured on film kicking and dragging his dog from a ute. Photo: Supplied.

Prohibition orders ban people from owning animals for a period of time.

“Sexual acts with animals need to be provided for explicitly. Unless it’s carnal knowledge, which is penetration, it’s a little bit of a grey area.”

Animal Justice Party Gold Coast convenor Ric Allport said while the penalties appeared tough on paper, it was a different matter when it came to dishing out punishment.

“I don’t know of any case where the maximum penalty was handed down,” he said.

“The courts need to hand down harsher penalties. We need to revisit animal welfare laws to make it more enforceable.”

He said offenders often got off with a slap on the wrist and prohibition orders needed to be used more often.

Chyna had to be put down by the RSPCA after she was dumped on the Gold Coast. Photo: RSPCA

Last year, the RSPCA investigated more than 2300 complaints on the Gold Coast, up from 2170 in 2016.

RSPCA prosecutor Tracey Jackson said despite the extra complaints, there had not been an increase in funding from the government or through donations.

“We never ever have a situation where we have a situation that we can’t prosecute due to lack of funding,” she said.

“But what it does mean what’s used in prosecutions which could have been used somewhere else as well.”

The RSPCA receives less than one per cent of funding from the government and relies on donations from the community for the remaining 99 per cent.

Hinterland Vet Surgery owner Ross Polst said animal cruelty needed to be properly prosecuted.

“I think it’s the whole gammut, but it means giving appropriate people the power to do their job and to actually give out penalties,” he said, adding they saw a possible abuse cases every fortnight.

“That rarely seems to happen. Let people know it’s not okay.”

The faces of animal cruelty on the Gold Coast

CHYNA: American Bulldog cross

Chyna the dumped Gold Coast dog. The RSPCA was forced to put her down and is now looking for her owner. Photo: RSPCA

Chyna was dumped at the Wacol RSPCA shelter last November with a massive stomach tumour. The tumour was inoperable and the dog was euthanised. Her microchip said she was originally registered to a Mermaid Waters address. The dog’s owner has not been found.

JETT: Maltese x King Charles Cavalier

Jett is a Maltese cross King Charles Cavalier that was mistreated by its Gold Coast owner. Photo: RSPCA

Jett and a cat called Beau Beau were left to fend for themselves for four days after Wendy Patricia Beddoes left her Robina property last year. Jett was severely matted with overgrown nails and very thin. Beddoes was ordered to perform 40 hours of community service and pay$1100 in vet fees and $92 in court fees. She is not allowed to own a dog or cat for 12 months.

ZENA: Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Zena, a staffy that was mistreated by her owners at Coomera. Photo: RSPCA

Zena was found by inspectors in an emaciated state in Coomera after a member of the public notified the RSPCA. In court, Amanda Jane Hicks and Bradley Douglas Nunn were fined $2878.41 each.

MOO: Australian cattle dog

Moo is a cattle dog that was mistreated on the Gold Coast. Photo: RSPCA

Moo was seized by the RSPCA after the owner, Karl Peter Nichols, failed to treat a longstanding skin condition. In court, Nichols was prohibited from keeping animals for two years and ordered to pay $2080.82 in RSPCA vet and boarding costs, $1100 in legal costs and $92.90 for his summons. A conviction was recorded.