Man who starved Blizzard the husky could be stung $16,000

A Bridgewater man who failed to feed his Siberian husky for weeks is facing a massive vet and RSPCA bill. Find out what happened to Blizzard the dog here and see the heartbreaking photos >>

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WHEN RSPCA officers discovered Blizzard the Siberian husky in the yard of his Bridgewater home, he’d become emaciated, was losing his coat and had endured weeks of suffering after being deprived of food.

Blizzard’s companion, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was also in a pitiful state, so the pair was whisked away to the Claremont Veterinary Surgery to be rescued.

Now, Blizzard’s owner Robert Francis Shevlin, 39, could face whopping vet and RSPCA fees of up to $16,000 after he was found guilty of one count of animal cruelty in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Magistrate Reg Marron said RSPCA officers attended the home in September 2017 after receiving complaints of two dogs being kept at the property in poor condition, leaving a seizure notice on the door.

BEFORE: Blizzard the Siberian husky was malnourished and had been suffering for weeks from lack of food when RSPCA inspectors found him at Bridgewater in September 2017. PICTURE: RSPCA Tasmania

Blizzard weighed just 16.1kg, with vets rating his body condition as a 1 out of 5 and noting both dogs had been malnourished for a considerable period of time.

“The condition of the dogs suggested they had been malnourished for a number of weeks at a minimum, and during that time they must have endured a considerable amount of suffering and pain,” Mr Marron said.

Blizzard's owner, Robert Francis Shevlin, has now been found guilty of animal cruelty and could face fines up to $16,000. PICTURE: RSPCA Tasmania

During a hearing held earlier this year, Shevlin admitted he was Blizzard’s owner but denied responsibility for the bull terrier, so a second charge of animal cruelty was dropped.

He also claimed he hadn’t seen Blizzard for about nine months, that a Family Violence Order precluded him from entering the property, and that his dog always “loses his coat about that time” of year.

“I am satisfied that Mr Shevlin had in fact seen the Siberian husky two weeks before the arrival of the inspectors,” Mr Marron said on Tuesday.

“The condition of the dog would have been visibly poor.”

AFTER: Blizzard the Siberian husky was nursed back to health by the Claremont Veterinary Surgery. PICTURE: RSPCA Tasmania

Mr Marron also found there was “no justifiable obstacle” preventing Shevlin visiting the property and caring for his dog – and even if there was, he still could have made arrangements to care for his dog’s welfare.

The magistrate ordered a home detention assessment and will sentence Shevlin, who must return to court on September 15, at a later date.

After vets restored him to health, Blizzard gained 8kg and was assessed as having a body score of 3 out of 5.

Today, Blizzard continues to be in great health, still in the care of the RSPCA.

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