Dalyellup man Cameron Les Bennell fined for animal cruelty after using staple gun to close dog’s wound

A South West man who used a staple gun to close open wounds on his dog has been fined five thousand dollars after pleading guilty to two charges of animal cruelty. Cameron Les Bennell, 30, was expected to appear in Bunbury Magistrate Court this morning on charges of Cruelty to animals and failing to take responsible steps to prevent animal suffering harm, however failed to appear for his sentencing. RSPCA’s general counsel Ian Weldon told the court Bennell’s Kelpie, Millie, was brought into a vet by a neighbour who found her wandering around Dalyellup. Millie was severely underweight, showing the outline of her spine, ribs and hips, and had recently given birth to a litter of puppies. When RSPCA inspectors attended Bennell’s property following Millie’s discovery, two more dogs and a two-week old litter of eight puppies were found dehydrated and underweight. One of the dogs, Dusty, was found with open and infected wound caused from hunting wild pigs which Bennell had attempted to close with a staple gun. While Bennell told the inspector Millie had not been eating the food he was providing, Mr Weldon said the vet who examined Millie has described her as having a “ravenous” appetite. Bennell surrendered Millie and her puppies to the RSPCA, however he refused to give up Dusty, who was then seized from his care by the RSPCA later that day. Magistrate Linda Keane said she was horrified the way the dogs were treated. “I shudder to think... what pain that dog would have went through receiving those wounds and then have them stapled closed,” she said. “Millie was lucky she got out.” Bennell received fines of $2,500 for each charge, as well paying $1685.03 in vet bills for the treatment of his former dogs. The third dog remains in Bennell’s custody.