Perth dog owner fined $9000 for abusing and starving a Great Dane

Cruel dog owner who starved his helpless Great Dane called Redley to the point he had to be euthanised is slapped with $9,000 fine

  • Perth man has been banned from owning dogs for five years and given $9k fine
  • He starved his Great Dane and a smaller dog, with both being rescued by RSPCA
  • Helpless Great Dane Redley had his ribs, spine and hips protruding when found
  • The abused dog has since been put down as his malnutrition was too severe  

A Perth man has been banned from owning dogs for five years and slapped with a $9,000 fine after he starved his pet to the point that it had to be euthanised.

In April 2019, police visited the man’s property and found two dogs, a five-year-old brindle Great Dane named Redley and a smaller dog.

Redley was discovered in a heartbreaking state, with his ribs, spine and hips protruding, prompting police to file a cruelty report to the RSPCA.

Two RSPCA inspectors visited the property, in Orelia, and seized Redley and the other dog.

The RSPCA says the owner told inspectors he thought Redley was sick but could not afford to take him to the vet, saying he was trying to ‘build him back up’ by feeding the Great Dane once or twice a day.

Redley (pictured) was discovered in a heartbreaking state, with his ribs, spine and hips protruding, prompting police to file a cruelty report to the RSPCA

Redley was later assessed by a vet, who determined he had suffered prolonged starvation resulting in his highly emaciated state, with severe muscle wastage across his body, an ear infection, hip dysplasia and a flea infection.

The RSPCA treated and cared for Redley for more than a month, but he was euthanised on humane grounds.

Redley’s 36-year-old owner, who now lives in South Australia, was convicted of animal cruelty at Rockingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty, the RSPCA said in a statement.

The court found the man did not provide proper and sufficient food to Redley, and said the dog had suffered harm which could have been alleviated if the owner took reasonable steps.

‘Redley was meant to be a loved pet. Instead he was left to starve and suffer over a long period of time. The sheer neglect is hard to comprehend. Please, if you can’t look after your animals, ask for help,’ RSPCA WA’s Hannah Dreaver said.

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