Man charged after puppy found living in “squalid” conditions

A Perth man has been charged after his 10-week Old French bulldog puppy was found living in deplorable conditions.

A man has been charged after a 10-week Old French bulldog puppy was found living in abusive and neglectful condition at home.

The 38-year-old Perth man has been fined $7,500 after being found guilty of keeping the dog named Lilly in “squalid and potentially dangerous” living conditions.

The offender has been banned from being in charge of pets for five years, while he was also ordered to pay $655.30 in court and expensive court costs.

RSPCA WA seized the puppy in May 2022 following a report from police, who found her locked in a bedroom with no access to food or water.

The man's house was in total squalor. Picture: Supplied / RSPCA

The property was deemed unsafe for Lilly to live. Picture: Supplied / RSPCA

Photos from inside the home show empty beer bottles littered throughout the house and cannabis on the floor.

Authorities noted that when they found Lilly, she was withdrawn and whimpering with an extremely enlarged stomach, raising concerns she had ingested the drugs.

At the Animal Care Centre in Malaga, RSPCA WA vets found she was suffering from intestinal infection giardia.

Lilly has made a full recovery. Picture: Supplied / RSPCA

Police at the scene confirmed the premises was in an unhygienic state, with numerous soiled

items and dog faeces throughout, and a number of items on the floor that would be harmful to the puppy if she had ingested them.

Lilly received medical treatment and has since made a full recovery.

RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said a clean and safe environment was fundamental to an animal’s welfare.

Lilly was found living in deplorable conditions. Picture: Supplied / RSPCA

The puppy was locked in a room without any food or water. Picture: Supplied / RSPCA

“This home was a dangerous environment for any pet but especially such a young puppy,’ she said.

“The offender said he’d been gifted Lilly just a few days prior. To already be showing such blatant disregard for her health and wellbeing is hard to comprehend.

“The floor was littered with dog faeces and other harmful items, such as cigarette butts and alcohol.

“I’m so grateful to the police for alerting us to this situation, or the outcome could have been much worse for Lilly.”

The dog remains in foster care and will be rehomed pending a 28-day appeal period.

The RSPCA urges anyone who suspects an animal is being subjected to cruelty and neglect to call 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589).