SWAMPED

Video just tip of iceberg of cruelty for RSPCA

A VIDEO of a man abusing his dog on the Gold Coast, which has been seen by millions across the country, has exposed an underbelly of animal cruelty the RSPCA is battling to contain and sparked a flood of outrage online. The organisation is investigating increasing numbers of cases while struggling for funds and fighting to be taken seriously by the courts. RSPCA officials yesterday seized the dog in the video. A decision is yet to be made whether the man will be charged.

A GOLD Coast dog seen kicked and choked by millions of people across the country in an online video has been seized by authorities.

The RSPCA received 50 phone calls and 22 emails about the incident. It seized the dog yesterday afternoon. It is unknown if the man will be charged.

The footage taken by a local at the Palm Beach Parklands on Monday shows the dog excitedly trying to go for a walk before its owner kicks and chokes it, snapping the leash a number of times.

The RSPCA said it had received 78 complaints of cruelty on the Gold Coast in the first eight days of the new year.

Last year, it received 2370 complaints, or just under seven a day.

In 2016, the RSPCA received 2129 complaints and rescued 186 dogs trapped in cars, the same as last year.

Spokesman Michael Beatty said the organisation often received extra cruelty complaints during the longer school holidays, which placed a further strain on their inspectors.

“These statistics give an indication of our inspectors’ workload,” Mr Beatty said.

“Owning a pet is not a right ... it should be a privilege and with that comes certain responsibilities.”

Mr Beatty said no animal should be kicked and that the man had used “totally inappropriate handling”.

“You can’t just lash out like that,” he said.

“(Owners) should learn the correct way to handle their dogs. This dog looked like it was excited to go to the beach.”

Dr Rich Seymour, of the Vet Collective, said beating a pet was never acceptable.

“The guy at Palm beach is a perfect example of someone who is frustrated and doesn’t know how to deal with it,” he said, adding choker chains were not appropriate.

“There is no place for beating your dog like that and it is never acceptable.

“It’s very frustrating because positive reinforcement is so simple. The dog just wants to know that you’re its buddy and it is so easy to show kindness and build a good relationship with a dog.

“People need to understand that it is hard for dogs to recover once they have been in that environment.”

The RSPCA has two inspectors tasked to the Gold Coast to investigate complaints.

Mr Beatty said over the past few months they had received complaints about children throwing rocks at cats, the decapitation of a kangaroo and birds being hit by slingshots.