QUEENSLAND: RSPCA slams cruelty penalty

[RSPCA Files ::: gmail]

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RSPCA slams cruelty penalty

28nov05

THE RSPCA has accused Queensland magistrates of being too soft on people
convicted of animal cruelty.

The RSPCA was angered by the penalty given to a 59-year-old man today who
left a dog to starve outside a factory in Ipswich, west of Brisbane.

Eric James Leonard was fined $1000 after pleading guilty in the Ipswich
Magistrates Court to one charge of abandonment and two charges of lack of
duty of care to a German shepherd.

RSPCA Queensland chief inspector Byron Hall said the penalty was
insufficient as a deterrent.

"I don't understand how some of these magistrates seem to pluck punishments
out of the air," Mr Hall said.

A previous offender had been fined $1500 for abandonment alone, he said.

"In this case, the man has received $500 less for three charges.

"The dog was half starved to death and dumped outside a factory."

The dog, known as Lucky, was found about 14kg underweight and with a skin
disease but it later regained health with the help of RSPCA carers and found
a new home and a new name.

Meanwhile, in Rockhampton in central Queensland today, the case of three men
due to face charges of cruelty to five cats was adjourned and a trial date
set for April 3 next year.

The RSPCA said four cats had been garrotted and dumped in a sack outside a
Queensland charity shop in January this year.

A fifth cat was so badly mutilated it had to be put down.