Owner guilty of animal cruelty, RSPCA NSW finds Aviary his forever home

His 71-year-old owner was convicted of multiple animal cruelty offences in Mount Druitt Local Court earlier this month.

The man has been ordered to pay more than $10,000 and banned from having an animal for five years.

The man was convicted in his absence for six counts of failure to provide vet treatment to the dog. The court imposed fines for each of six charges:

Veterinary care and shelter costs of $6107 were awarded to RSPCA NSW. The man was banned from purchasing, acquiring, taking possession or custody of any animal for five years.

Facts tendered to the court showed that RSPCA inspectors attended a home in Lethbridge Park, near Blacktown in Sydney's western suburbs, on September 1 last year.

The dog was examined at RSPCA NSW Sydney Veterinary Hospital where it was revealed it had numerous health issues which had been untreated for a significant time, causing him unnecessary pain, suffering and discomfort.

The vet determined Aviary was suffering from a dental disease with bone loss and gum recession at the tooth roots, and pus exuding from the root, which was untreated for no less than 21 days prior to examination. He also had inflamed, irritated skin at the perianal region due to faecal scalding, conjunctivitis and otitis externa (ear infections) which had been untreated for at least one week prior to examination.

He had a heavy flea burden which had remained untreated for at least three weeks, and a very matted and dirty coat, for which the man failed to provide necessary grooming for at least one month prior to examination.

Aviary has since made a full recovery under RSPCA NSW care and has since been adopted into his forever home.