In another act of extreme animal cruelty, a kitten has been brutally bashed, tortured and thrown into a rubbish bin to die. The 12-week-old grey and white kitten is suffering a suspected broken pelvis, broken ribs, internal injuries, missing front teeth and head trauma.
RSPCA inspectors will interview a 45-year-old man over the incident believed to have occurred at a house at Blackett in Sydney's Western Suburbs.
The latest attack comes three months after a Government crackdown under which callous individuals convicted of serious animal cruelty face prison sentences of up to five years.
Chief inspector David O'Shannessy said yesterday the kitten was allegedly bashed against a cement step and tossed in a bin after she had apparently fouled a lounge room floor.
It is believed she then crawled out of the bin and was smashed against the cement step again, before being thrown in a bucket of water.
The kitten - who is unable to walk - was rescued by a Good Samaritan who contacted the RSPCA.
Named "Katie" by RSPCA Yagoona staff after the vet who cared for her, Dr Kate Mills, the kitten is undergoing X-rays and medical treatment.
Dr Mills said her little namesake had been in a lot of pain but was responding well.
"She's a friendly little kitten and we're doing all we can to control her pain," she said.
RSPCA Animal Ambulance Officer Stuart Davenport, supported by Mount Druitt police, went to the Blackett address on the night of January 24 to rescue the kitten.
"It's very hard to remain professional when I see a kitten in so much pain," Mr Davenport said.
"The most amazing thing was that despite a smashed hip Katie rolled over and started playing when I patted her. Case UpdatesA man who bashed a 12-week-old kitten, tried to drown it and tossed it into a bin has been jailed for a year and banned from owning another pet.
Stephen John Clancy, 45, of Blackett, was sentenced today in Mt Druitt Local Court for serious animal cruelty.
He pleaded guilty to torturing or beating an animal with intent to inflict severe pain.
On January 24, Clancy repeatedly picked the kitten up by the tail and threw it to the ground, before trying to drown it in a dog's drinking bowl.
Police alleged Clancy, thinking the kitten was dead, then threw it into a garbage bin.
But the kitten, known as Puddy, survived the attack, climbing out of the bin and returning to the back door of the house.
The animal was sheltered by the RSPCA after it was removed from Clancy's home, and renamed Katie after the vet who treated her.
Clancy was today sentenced to 12 months' jail, with a non-parole period of eight months.
The court also banned him from owning pets.
Speaking outside court before he was jailed, Clancy blamed the incident on his drug abuse.
"I was on drugs, quite 'effed' up at the time," he told the Ten Network.
"Of course, I'm sorry. Wouldn't you be?"
Following a spate of attacks on kittens, the State Government last year made animal cruelty an offence under the NSW Crimes Act, punishable by a maximum five years' jail.
RSPCA Chief Inspector David O'Shannessy said Clancy was one of the first, if not the first, to be sentenced under this legislation.
It sent a strong message to the community that cruelty against defenceless animals would not be tolerated, he said.
"We're certainly very happy with the result," he said.
"The RSPCA lobbied for a long time to have harsher penalties, and the government took that lead."
Mr O'Shannessy said Katie had a tooth knocked out and suffered a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and bruising after being repeatedly thrown onto a concrete surface.
But she had "almost made a complete recovery" and had been adopted by a couple in Sydney's inner west. | Source: AAP - June 15, 2006
Update posted on Jun 15, 2006 - 7:58AM |
A man has been charged after a kitten was bashed against a cement step, dunked in water and thrown in a rubbish bin in Sydney's west. The 12-week-old kitten suffered serious injuries when allegedly attacked by its owner at a house in Blackett on January 24.
The kitten, known as Puddy, survived the attack by crawling out of the bin and limping to the rear door of the house, police said.
The man allegedly washed the pet before telling his neighbours what had happened.
Police said officers went to a home in Blackett yesterday and arrested a 45-year-old man. He was charged with animal cruelty offences and bailed to appear in Penrith Local Court on February 22. | Source: The Australian - Feb 2, 2006
Update posted on Feb 1, 2006 - 6:20PM |
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