Man who mutilated Corgi puppies convicted of animal cruelty

A 24-year-old man on a student visa was convicted and sentenced at Downing Centre Local Court on 16 July 2021 after pleading guilty to multiple animal cruelty charges.  

These charges include tail docking seven Corgi puppies and failing to provide veterinary treatment to an adult female Corgi dog in poor body condition.  

The defendant was also charged with failing to comply with the requirements of the Animal Welfare Code of Practice for Breeding Cats and Dogs and for confining 7 Corgi puppies in a crate of inadequate dimensions inside his residential unit.

On 7 July and 20 August 2020, the man mutilated eleven puppies’ tails by placing thick elastic bands around the base of their tails to dock their tails. The practise of tail docking is purely cosmetic and has been illegal in NSW for over 17 years. The defendant made admissions he was breeding and selling the puppies for $7000 each. 

RSPCA NSW was called to investigate on 24 August 2020 after the bodies of two puppies were discovered in the waste disposal bins of the unit complex. The bodies had been disposed of down the garbage chute and still had the elastic bands attached near their tail base. 

An RSPCA NSW Inspector attended the property the next day and discovered the man’s unit contained several cats, one adult female Husky, and the two adult female Corgis who had seven and two puppies respectively, not including the two puppies previously found deceased. 

The Corgi who had the first litter was found to be in an overweight condition. All seven of her puppies were seized after being discovered to be locked in a small heavily soiled crate. 

The mother of the second litter was found in a poor body condition with her ribs clearly visible through her thick coat and an evident abdominal tuck. She was seized, along with her two live and two deceased pups, for veterinary assessment. Two days later, the two live puppies passed away from sepsis, likely caused by the docking of their tails.  

RSPCA NSW Chief Inspector Scott Meyers said, “Multiple animals have needlessly passed away as a direct result of the defendant putting profit before the health and wellbeing of these Corgis. 

“Any person breeding and selling animals has a responsibility to provide adequate care and living conditions. All prospective pet owners should take the appropriate steps to make sure they are supporting ethical breeders or consider adopting from your local animal shelter. 

Magistrate Crompton, sitting at Downing Centre Local Court, disqualified the defendant from owning any animal for 3 years.  

The defendant was convicted, placed on an 18-month corrections order and sentenced to 100 hours of community service. He was fined $750 (with a moiety to RSPCA NSW) and ordered to pay $2,570.80 in veterinary treatment and shelter costs. 

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES. Media kit available for download here. 

All charges were brought under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. 

About RSPCA NSW 

RSPCA NSW is a community-based, not-for-profit, animal welfare charity that protects, cares for, treats and rehomes animals across New South Wales. 

Since 1928, the RSPCA NSW Inspectorate performs a statutory role in enforcing state animal cruelty legislation. Over 35 dedicated inspectors investigate complaints against all types of animals, in all kinds of situations. The Inspectorate exists first and foremost to help people help their animals, and it is their intent to keep animals with their owners when it is in the animal’s best interest to do so. They are empowered to deal with serious animal cruelty offences by the use of statutory powers and enforcement action. 

Report animal cruelty via 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589) OR online at https://www.rspcansw.org.au/contact/report-a-cruelty-case