On Thursday 21st July 2022 in the Mackay Magistrate’s Court, a 46-year-old man was found guilty of two counts of supplying animals for a prohibited event between March 2019 and September 2020.
He was also found guilty of animal negligence against all four of his dogs for tethering them with heavy chains and not seeking veterinary treatment for one dog.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended after 2 months, for an operational period of 18 months, and prohibited from owning dogs for five years.
RSPCA Queensland Inspectors seized four dogs following a raid at his property on September 17, 2020 as well as dog fighting paraphernalia.
Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan labelled the defendant’s evidence as “dishonest and deliberate lies” and found the scarring pattern on two of his dogs to be from dog fighting.
Magistrate Hartigan stated that the offences of dog fighting were “abhorrent to the community and any right-minded thinking person.”
“The court needs to make it clear to you that the community denounces this sort of conduct.”
Prosecutor for the RSPCA Kate Gover said evidence demonstrated the animals were “significantly traumatised” and had “serious psychological and behavioural issues”. All four dogs were humanely euthanised.
RSPCA Queensland is the state’s only animal welfare charity with Inspectors empowered to prosecute animal cruelty under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001.
Members of the public who witness animal cruelty or neglect are urged to immediately call RSPCA’s 24-hour hotline 1300 ANIMAL.
