Lani Beattie, 23, has been handed a suspended jail sentence after she was caught on camera strangling her one-year-old puppy, Roxy, because the dog was chewing her belongings. The incident occurred in Beckenham, Perth, on October 13 last year, and was filmed by a passerby who witnessed the sustained cruelty.
Details of the Abuse
The witness saw Beattie standing over the lifeless Roxy in her backyard. The dog was tied to a pole with a rope around her neck, making yelping noises. The witness told The West that the staffy-kelpie cross puppy screamed, choked, and struggled before they called RSPCA WA. Veterinary examinations later revealed bruising, swelling, bleeding in Roxy's right eye, and behaviour consistent with psychological harm.
Beattie claimed she no longer wanted Roxy because the dog was "chewing up all my s***." The RSPCA was horrified by the abuse, and Roxy has since been rehomed by the organisation.
Court Proceedings
On Thursday, July 2, Beattie appeared at Perth Magistrates Court. The RSPCA WA prosecutor described the actions as "wicked" and "sustained" cruelty. Magistrate Michelle Harries called Beattie's behaviour "abhorrent," stating, "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. However, the sentence was suspended for 12 months, with supervision and program requirements. She was also banned from owning or caring for animals for five years and ordered to pay over $1,600 (roughly £800) to RSPCA WA.
RSPCA Response
RSPCA WA inspector manager Kylie Green expressed her horror at the abuse. "It's overwhelming to think of the terror and pain Roxy experienced over an extended period of time that morning," she said. "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."
