Collie, Carey Park pair, 21, charged with animal cruelty offences

A South West couple has been charged with animal cruelty after the RSPCA found dead and emaciated dogs on a Collie property.

RSPCA inspectors were called to the property in May 2019 after they received an animal cruelty complaint regarding two Staffordshire-cross breed dogs.

Inspectors found and seized a dead male dog and a female dog, both of which were found to be severely emaciated when examined by veterinarians.

The Collie man and Carey Park woman, both 21 years old, will front Collie Magistrate’s Court on May 19.

The charges come two months after another Collie couple, Rhys Cochrane, 29, and April Gulbertie, 28, were banned from owning horses for life and ordered to pay $80,000 after they were found guilty of appalling animal cruelty offences which left one horse with its spine exposed from a large gaping wound.

Mr Cochrane and Ms Gulbertie’s 2018 abuse saw a thoroughbred gelding named George and pony named Robin both emaciated with severe lice infestations on the pair’s family farm, where they lived until they were taken into the RSPCA’s care.

Report cases of suspected cruelty and neglect to the RSPCA via 1300 278 358 or at rspcawa.org.au.