CONVICTED: Was justice served?
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Case #16533 Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Dog neglected, flesh rotting, puss-covered eyes Southport, QLD (AU)Incident Date: Friday, Oct 30, 2009
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Helen Susan King
A successful Gold Coast businesswoman who neglected her dog for up to eight years in a ''mean, callous and indecent way'' has been hit with more than $6000 in fines and vet bills.
Mother-of-four Helen Susan King, 46, pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court yesterday to one charge of animal cruelty.
The court was told her pet kelpie Blackie was suffering from ''chronic pain and neglect'' when it was seized by the RSPCA from Ms King's Tallebudgera home last October.
The dog was suffering from dead and rotting flesh, teeth worn to the bone, severe hair loss, leathery ''elephant-like'' skin and puss-covered eyes. It was also underweight.
King, who had two other dogs, told the RSPCA that Blackie was ''just an outside dog'' and that she didn't want to spend money on it.
The cruelty charge related to a period of four days but RSPCA barrister Chris George told the court the dog had been suffering from the skin problem for six to eight years.
The court was told she ran a successful business and travelled extensively overseas.
Mr George said it was a ''reprehensible'' case of ''wilful neglect''.
He said Blackie had since been put down, although there was no evidence this was due to its ill-treatment.
Magistrate Brian Kilmartin said King had shown ''callous disregard'' and ''gross cruelty''.
King, who voluntarily paid more than $1400 in vet and court fees before the court hearing, was fined $5000.
Mr Kilmartin did not record a conviction but ordered half the fine be paid to the RSPCA.
He said the penalty should serve as a lesson to anyone who would neglect their animals in such a ''mean, callous and indecent way''.
Outside court, RSPCA inspector Sommer Heath-Crilley said Blackie had been in an ''appalling'' state when he was rescued and it was one of the most prolonged cases of animal neglect she had seen.
She said the RSPCA was ''a little disappointed'' with the fine, given Mr Kilmartin's scathing findings.
''At the end of the day, there are strong comparisons between cruelty to animals and cruelty to children,'' she said.
Defence solicitor Jason Buckland said King was considering appealing against the severity of the fine.
He said she was ''very happy'' the dog had recovered but ''sad it was put down for other reasons''. References |