Sydney woman convicted after she repeatedly allowed her pet Havanese dog to ingest meth and opioids

A reckless owner of a pet dog has been found guilty of allowing her pet to take drugs including meth and opioids. 

The 30-year-old woman from western Sydney was slapped with a 15-month community service sentence for the disgraceful act. 

Her one-year-old pet dog Loca, a Havanese, died after vets discovered the animal had consumed methamphetamine four times in the span of a year. 

Vets who were caring for the dog after they became aware of the owner’s lack of care were shocked at the discovery.

RSPCA Chief NSW Inspector Scott Myers told Daily Mail Australia the negligence of the owner was unfathomable. 

‘How this little dog was able to repeatedly ingest illicit drugs is frankly disgusting,’ Mr Myers said. 

Mr Myers said he agreed with the court’s decision to punish the woman.  

‘RSPCA NSW echoes the Court’s view that most pet owners try desperately to do the right thing and to meet their obligations to their animals,’ he said. 

‘But this was a clear and repeated failure of responsibility that caused needless suffering to an animal. It will not be tolerated’.  

When the woman was questioned by authorities, she claimed Loca consumed the drugs accidentally at a park. 

Toxicology reports by pathologists found the Loca was severely poisoned after consuming meth and opioids, after which the dog was taken into care but later died

She said the dog ‘found and ate something’ after she took the dog to an off-leash dog park in north Parramatta. 

The woman brushed aside concerns that Loca consumed the drugs more than once. 

She said it was a case of ‘bad luck’ as the dog was ‘looking for trouble all the time’. 

The woman had also allowed Loca to have opioids, which almost led to the dog’s death due to a severe illness.  

Officers from the RSPCA were made aware the dog took the drugs back in February of 2022. 

It wasn’t until May 2023 that officers were able to locate Loca and its owner, after the dog was brought to a vet clinic when the animal was poisoned for a fourth time. 

The RSPCA weren’t able to revive the dog. 

Loca was found to have inhaled a significant amount of toxins from consuming the drugs.

Pathologists from the peak animal welfare group were not able to determine how Loca died. 

The dog’s owner has been banned from acquiring or owning animals for a minimum of five years.