The woman was caught on camera carrying out ‘sustained cruelty’ on her one-year-old puppy in Perth and has been convicted of animal cruelty but will avoid prison
A woman in Australia was caught on camera strangling her puppy in a series of actions of ‘sustained cruelty’ – because it was chewing her things.
Lani Beattie, 23, has been handed a suspended jail sentence after the ‘wicked’ treatment of her young pet.
A passerby filmed Beattie standing over ‘lifeless’ Roxy in her backyard in Beckenham in Perth on October 13 last year.
The one-year-old dog was tied to a pole with a rope around her neck, making yelping noises.
The witness told The West the staffy-kelpie cross puppy screamed, choked and struggled.
They called RSPCA WA after spotting the distressing incident.
Roxy was left with bruising, swelling, bleeding in her right eye, and behaviour consistent with psychological harm, examinations at a vet revealed.
Beattie claimed she didn’t want Roxy anymore because she was “chewing up all my s***”.
Roxy has now been rehomed by the RSPCA.
On Thursday, July 2, Beattie appeared at Perth Magistrates Court where the RSPCA WA prosecutor said it was an example of ‘wicked’ and ‘sustained’ cruelty.
Michelle Harries, Magistrate, said her behaviour was ‘abhorrent’.
She said: “The facts are in my view serious. They are facts you should be very ashamed of.”
Beattie was convicted of animal cruelty and sentenced to six months and 14 days in prison.
But the order was suspended for 12 months with supervision and program requirements.
The 23-year-old has also been banned from owning or caring for animals for five years and has to pay over $1,600 (roughly £800) to RSPCA WA.
RSPCA WA inspector manager Kylie Green said she was horrified by the abuse.
She said: “It’s overwhelming to think of the terror and pain Roxy experienced over an extended period of time that morning.
“One-year-old dogs, especially those who aren’t given the time and patience needed for effective training and the love and attention required to stop them from becoming bored, will naturally chew items left lying around.
“To use that as a justification for torturing an animal – because that’s exactly what this offender did – defies all logic and reason.”
