RSPCA takes four cats and dogs from Jeanette Screen after she allegedly failed to properly feed them

The RSPCA says four dogs and cats at risk of starving to death because of a pet owner’s alleged neglect needed to be saved.

The RSPCA had to rescue four dogs and cats allegedly at risk of starving to death, a court has heard.

The RSPCA has had to rescue four dogs and cats because they were allegedly at risk of starving to death.

The pets’ owner has been charged with failing to provide adequate food for two dogs — one of which was allegedly less than half its ideal body weight — and two cats, one of which was allegedly just a third of its proper mass.

Jeanette Screen, 47, did not appear in Moorabbin Magistrates’ court yesterday, but her lawyer said she would be contesting the case.

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RSPCA charge sheets reveal investigators went to Ms Screen’s property on April 23 and allegedly saw one of the dogs in an “emaciated” condition.

A notice of intention to seize the dog was taped over Ms Screen’s door due to concerns over the dog’s welfare.

When inspectors went back four days later, they allegedly found two “poor body condition” cats in a sunroom with no food or water, as well as two emaciated dogs.

All four were seized by inspectors and taken to vets, where they were put on appropriate feeding regimes.

A vet’s report revealed one of the dogs, a male Shih tzu, allegedly weighed 2.99kg and had a body condition of one out of five, while the second dog, another male Shih tzu, allegedly weighed 4.64kg, scoring just 1.5 out of five on a body condition scale.

One cat allegedly weighed just 1.34kg while the other was 1.97kg, both fractions of their ideal weight.

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Vet reports allege none of the four had been provide with adequate nutrition, resulting in poor body condition which “would have been obvious”.

When interviewed Ms Screen allegedly told investigators the dogs had “always been thin but its because they’re so active” and the cats were both “very healthy but a bit skinny”.

All four dogs and cats put on several kilograms of weight when fed properly and remain in the care of the RSPCA.

Her lawyer, Sam Norton, fought in court to refuse the media access to the summary of the alleged offending.

But magistrate Rodney Crisp allowed access to court documents on condition Ms Screen’s address was redacted.

She will appear in court again on April 8 for a one-day hearing.

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