Embleton couple fined and banned from owning animals after elderly dog left to suffer

An Embleton couple has been fined and banned from owning animals for six months after their elderly dog was found lying on a mouldy bed, with blood-tinged saliva and pus dripping from his mouth.

The Japanese Spitz named Bei Bei had been left to suffer from a growth on his tongue which had caused necrosis — the death of cells or tissue after restricted blood flow.

A 55-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were each fined $2000 for the neglect, with a Perth Magistrate saying they showed “a complete misunderstanding and ignorance of what was happening to the animal and what the animal was going through”.

In June 2023, an RSPCA inspector found the dog emaciated, frothing from the mouth and with an extremely dirty coat.

The female owner allegedly blamed the dog’s condition on old age but once the dog was seized it was found his tongue was immobile due to the mass.

The following day Bei Bei was put under general anaesthetic for further treatment but stopped breathing and passed away.

RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said the way the owners’ treatment of the dog was “cruel”.

“This was a lovely dog, relying on his owners to look after him in his old age,” Green said.

“To be left filthy, emaciated, in pain and unable to eat or even swallow his own saliva properly was cruel and I’m pleased the court has recognised that today.”