University-educated drug addict who neglected her poodle Dobby avoids jail despite abandoning the ‘skinniest dog the RSPCA has ever seen’ in her backyard
- WARNING GRAPHIC PHOTOS
- Mara Fiore faced court after abandoning her poodle Dobby at home in 2017
- Dobby weighed just 3kg and was severely matted and in need of medical care
- Fiore, 31, avoided jail but has been banned from owning dogs for five years
- Dobby spent two months at RSPCA clinic and was eventually rehomed to a family
Mara Fiore, 31, faced the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Thursday and was sentenced to a 15 months community corrections order and was banned from owning a dog for five years
A reformed drug addict has avoided jail despite neglecting her poodle Dobby so severely that a vet described it as the ‘skinniest dog’ she’d ever seen.
The RSPCA attended a home in Mill Park in Melbourne’s north-east in December 2017 to find the four-year-old dog had been abandoned in the backyard.
Dobby had been left with no access to food or water, was severely emaciated and his fur was completely matted.
The dog was seized and an RSPCA vet said Dobby was the ‘skinniest dog still alive that she had ever seen’ weighing just 3.05kg.
Dobby’s owner, Mara Fiore, 31, faced the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Thursday and was sentenced to a 15 months community corrections order and was banned from owning a dog for five years.
Fiore, who had studied at Deakin University, was also ordered to pay $1,849 in vet bills and will have to complete 200 hours of community service.
The 31-year-old had earlier pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, dishonesty, drug possession and trespass charges, the Herald Sun reported.
The RSPCA attended a home in Mill Park in Melbourne’s north-east in December 2017 to find the four-year-old dog had been abandoned in the backyard
Dobby had been left with no access to food or water, was severely emaciated and his fur was completely matted
The mother-of-one had become dependent on drugs after a downward spiral in 2017 but earlier told a court she had ‘completely turned my life around’.
Magistrate Meagan Keogh said Fiore’s recent attempts to find a job and overcome her drug addiction was ‘about the only thing’ stopping her from being locked up.
Fiore was also ordered to pay $5429 for various phones she dishonestly obtained.
Dobby had to spend two months at the RSPCA clinic receiving care after he was found.
Victoria RSPCA said they found bits of metal wire caught in his matted fur along with grass seeds and other debris.
Fortunately Dobby’s weight increased to 5.35kg in under two months and by March, 2018 he had been adopted by a loving family.
Fortunately Dobby’s weight increased to 5.35kg in under two months and by March, 2018 he had been adopted by a loving family
RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michael Stagg said it was disturbing Dobby’s owner had shown such disregard for his life.
‘There is no excuse for any animal to be neglected and we want to send the strong message that we will continue to hold people to account if they are not providing their pets with the required standards of care,’ Mr Stagg said.
‘We seized this animal in December 2017 and we have never faltered in our resolve to seek justice for Dobby. This case just goes to show we will not give up our pursuit of offenders who are guilty of animal cruelty and neglect.’