Frank Robert Davis fined $3000 and banned from owning animals for five years after tying dog to clothesline

A 26-year-old Carey Park man has been fined $3000 and banned from having contact with animals for five years from July after leaving his dog tied to a clothesline without access to water or shade during a summer day. Frank Robert Davis was convicted of being a person who was cruel to an animal by the Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday after providing an endorsed plea of guilty to the charge. Davis did not appear to face the charge and was convicted in his absence. The court was told the RSPCA was called to Davis’ home on December 23 by a City of Bunbury ranger, who had seen an American staffordshire crossbreed dog tangled on a chain attached to a clothesline in the property’s backyard. An inspector attended the property and observed the three-year-old dog, named Mick, panting heavily with a dry, red mouth and his tongue hanging out. Mick was also in full sun on the 28C day and an empty water bowl was spotted within the area. It was noted the chain used to tie Mick to the clothesline had tangled upon itself, becoming only 50cm long, and Mick’s collar had also twisted tightly around his throat. After the inspector removed Mick’s collar, Mick was given water which he drank excessively before he was taken to a vet who determined Mick was suffering from mild dehydration. Following multiple attempts at contacting Davis, he told the RSPCA he had chained Mick to the clothesline the night before on a chain long enough to reach a kennel and a water bowl. It was determined Mick had been chained to the clothesline for five hours. The court was also told Davis had been in charge of Mick for only one night after buying him from a friend with the intention to using Mick for pig hunting. It was submitted that Mick had since fully recovered and remains in the care of the RSPCA. In sentencing, Magistrate Linda Keane deemed Davis’ conduct “entirely inappropriate” and noted it would have been common knowledge that animals were not to be kept out in the sun during the summer. Along with the fine and ban from being in contact with animals, Davis was also ordered to pay court costs and compensation to the RSPCA for Mick’s veterinary treatment. RSPCA inspector manager Kylie Green advised pet owners to use a proper tethering device if it was necessary. “Always ensure your dog is not able to become tangled and always has adequate shelter and water,” she said. “Even if they can reach shade and water when you first tether them, things can and often do go wrong as happened here.”