A MANDURAH woman who allegedly left a dog to die after abandoning it at a Waroona rental property failed to appear in court on Tuesday morning.
Gemma Louise Tovey was charged with three counts of animal cruelty and one count of failing to provide proper and sufficient food to an animal.
The court heard RSPCA inspectors went to Ms Tovey’s former address on September 12, 2012 and found two emaciated and abandoned dogs locked inside.
Another dog, a female greyhound, was found dead in a pool of urine.
Ms Tovey is understood to have had her lease on the property terminated in June of that year.
A later inspection of the home revealed faecal matter littering the floor and walls and scratches on a toilet door indicating a dog had been locked in for some time.
The greyhound, which weighed just 14.1kgs, was taken to Murdoch Hospital for an autopsy which revealed leather, metal and elastic bands in its stomach.
The average weight of a female greyhound of similar age was reported to be between 27-34kg.
Inspectors seized the remaining dogs – a Siberian Husky and a Rotti/Staffy X – and are seeking to ban Ms Tovey from owning animals.
The maximum penalty for these charges is a $50,000 fine and five years’ imprisonment.
Ms Tovey will be summonsed to face court on October 14 for sentencing.
