Picture: Diamond when rescued by RSPCA SA in 17 March 2021, and right, recovered and rehomed.

A 24-year-old man from Adelaide’s northern suburbs was convicted on animal cruelty charges in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today in relation to a young female dog found in emaciated condition, together with her eight puppies that were also malnourished.

The man pleaded guilty to two charges of ill treatment of an animal for failing to provide adequate food for the one-year-old Staffordshire cross and her six-week-old puppies. Two RSPCA SA inspectors attended at the defendant’s property on 17 March 2021 in response to a cruelty report.

The inspectors located the eight puppies in a bathroom and immediately noticed their poor condition, with heads that appeared too big for their bodies and large, distended stomachs. Their mother, named Diamond, was located in the backyard of the property in emaciated condition, with a BCS (body score condition) of 1/9.

Due to the condition of Diamond and her puppies, the inspectors seized them and transported them to RSPCA’s Lonsdale shelter.

RSPCA SA Chief Vet examined Diamond and her puppies at the Lonsdale vet clinic. Diamond weighed 14.05 kg. She had no fat on her body and her ribs, hips, spine, limbs, and skull all protruded. Her mammary glands were enlarged but no milk was expressible.

The eight puppies were also all very thin and in dirty condition. Their BCS ranged from 1.5/9 – 3.5/9 and all were diagnosed with malnutrition.

After three weeks in RSPCA SA care, the body weights of each of the pups had significantly increased, with six of the puppies gaining more than 100% of their original weight. Meanwhile, Diamond also achieved a healthy weight and by 23 April 2021 she weighed 19.2kg, a 37% increase on her original weight.

In his written report for the court, RSPCA SA Chief Veterinarian stated Diamond’s weight loss would have started at the commencement of her suckling her pups and continued in decline until she was removed from the property, a period of approximately six weeks. The pups would likely have been in good condition until their mother’s milk supply started to diminish and they were weaned. The pups would have been receiving insufficient nutrition for two to three weeks.

“Diamond had become so thin that her body could not produce any milk for her pups and they had begun to lose condition.

“Dogs are like all fauna, they are food orientated, and deprivation of adequate caloric intake would lead to increased effort to find food and achieve satiation.

“Being unable to reach this would be a source of significant agitation and distress.”

RSPCA SA Head of Animal Welfare, Andrea Lewis, said bitches in lactation require significantly greater levels of caloric intake and this was clearly not being addressed by the carers of the dogs.

In court today, Magistrate Ben Sale showed the defendant pictures of the emaciated dogs stating “all they wanted to do was to please you and be looked after by you and you neglected them.” The Magistrate further added that the emaciated state of Diamond was such that she may well have died had the animals not been seized. His Honour imposed a two year Good Behaviour Bond with supervision conditions to comply with treatment for mental health issues as well as drug counselling.

RSPCA SA sought payment of $8,827 as reimbursement for the animals’ treatment and care costs. His Honour made orders for $500 compensation to the RSPCA after taking into account the perpetrator’s limited capacity to pay.

At a hearing on 9 February 2023, his Magistrate Sale ordered that no other animals are to be in the defendant’s possession until further order, other than a single dog residing at the property which is in acceptable condition. His Honour ordered that the RSPCA supervise the care of the dog for a period of two years.

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