Tykel Leonard James Whitby, 19, sentenced on two counts of animal cruelty in Bunbury Magistrates Court

A Carey Park man has been fined after he was involved in two animal cruelty incidents in Bunbury early last year. Tykel Leonard James Whitby, 19, was sentenced at Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday after being convicted of two counts of being a person who was cruel to an animal. The court was told on March 10 last year, Whitby was witnessed in public at the Leschenault Inlet jetty on Blair Street punching a tan-coloured puppy named Rocket in the head. He followed this act by kicking him in the rib and hip area, before throwing the puppy into the air and along the jetty. Just days later on March 15, Whitby was observed at the Bunbury bus station kicking the puppy before dragging him from underneath a bench by the leg and riding off on his bicycle, holding the puppy in the air by its neck. Witnesses of both incidents reported hearing the puppy yelping and crying out. Rocket was seized by police on March 27 and taken to a vet where it was confirmed he had suffered soft tissue damage. He was examined by an RSPCA vet in Balga a day later, where it was reported he was reactive to movement and contact around his spine and limbs, with the injuries being consistent with physical trauma and pain. When spoken to by authorities following the March 10 incident, Whitby claimed he was giving the dog discipline, denying kicking and punching it. His defence counsel said he accepted he had slapped the rib and hip area and threw the dog towards the jetty, stating he had acted out of frustration. He said his client believed he was “extremely unstable” and experienced mental health issues due to homelessness, a relationship breakdown with his mother and cannabis use. The prosecution said it understood Whitby may have been oblivious to the danger to the animal and how inappropriate it was, adding the incidents took place in public view. They described the incidents as “entirely inappropriate” and “unfortunate”. Magistrate Joanne Andretich described it as a “privilege” to own an animal. “Animals cannot speak up for themselves, remember maltreatment, and may have difficulty connecting with another owner and can become vicious,” she said. Whitby was fined a total of $4000 over the two incidents and ordered to pay $166.30 in court costs. An order was also made to ban him from being in control or contact with domestic animals for three years.