Meat pie diet leaves dogs in poor shape
Animals’ condition horrifies inspector
A MAREEBA mum who fed her pups meat pies because “she could not afford dog food” and kept them chained to a fence has been banned from owning dogs for five years.
Moose, a great dane cross irish wolfhound, Horse, a bull arab, and Rooster, a bull arab cross irish wolfhound, were found by RSPCA inspectors at the residence of Tammy Ley Chong in January.
All three animals were lethargic, emaciated and “heavily infected with fleas”.
Short lengths of chain stopped them from reaching shelter from the sun and all three dogs were forced to lie in the dirt during the day.
An RSPCA inspector warned Chong that the dogs were in poor shape and in July he confiscated the animals.
“He was horrified at the condition of the animals,” barrister John Eylander told Mareeba Magistrates Court.
Chong told the inspector she was planning to provide them with more suitable living conditions but “didn’t get around to it”.
“She had been struggling financially to care for herself and her three children, let alone the three dogs since her partner was incarcerated … for bashing someone with a baseball bat,” RSPCA inspector Tracey Jackson said.
The court heard Chong, 26, fed Horse and Rooster meat pies donated from a friendly bakery.
“She just gave them 30 pies EMACIATED: Moose (left) suffered hookworm and the dogs’ owner wanted to euthanise Rooster (right), who suffered a burst abscess. each,” Mr Eylander said.
“Her friend owns a bakery and gave her the pies free of charge as she could not afford dog food.”
Incredibly, Chong wanted to euthanise Rooster, who had suffered a burst abscess on his face.
“She could not afford any other type of treatment,” Mr Eylander said
All three dogs were confiscated and taken to a vet, who noted all were emaciated and that Moose and Horse suffered hookworm. With treatment and regular feeding over a month, the dogs gained between 5.2kg and 8.4kg.
Chong was convicted of five breaches of the Animal Care and Protection Act.
She was sentenced to 240 hours of community service was also prohibited from owning any dogs for five years.
“Owning a dog is not compulsory and keeping a dog tied up in the back yard is cruel and unlawful,” the RSPCA inspector said.
“We now know how harmful constant tethering can be for dogs.”
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