Aussie man fined $2,000 for 'downright cruel' act caught on CCTV
The 38-year-old man has pleaded guilty to grabbing and throwing a family's pet cat seven metres onto a concrete path.
An Aussie man has copped a $2,000 fine after he was captured on CCTV hurling a family’s pet cat seven metres along the footpath.
The 38-year-old grabbed the cat, Blossom, from the front yard of the home where she lives in Piara Waters, Perth, while walking down the street with three friends last January.
CCTV footage shows the man approach Blossom and reach down like he’s going to pat her. Suddenly, he grabs her by the tail and throws the cat into the air, watching on as the cat slams onto the ground in front of the house next door.
The man walks towards the pet again as she furiously darts to the front door.
Blossom was tossed approximately five to seven metres in the direction of people walking behind the man, RSPCA WA said on Tuesday. The group can be seen laughing as the cat hits the concrete path, the organisation added.
Following the attack, Blossom was provided with pain relief over two vet visits, but her owners say her demeanour changed in the months following, with the cat becoming “quite clingy”.
Judge slams man's 'downright cruel' cat act
The 38-year-old Perth man pleaded guilty to the act of animal cruelty late last year, 7 News reports, and was sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday. During the hearing, the court heard the man was “ashamed and remorseful” for his actions, which Magistrate Kelly Thompson called “severe”, RSPCA WA said.
He was handed a $2,000 fine and a spent conviction. The maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
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“Thankfully most people can see that acts such as this are downright cruel and there’s nothing clever or funny about them,” Magistrate Thompson said. “This would have been a terrifying ordeal for Blossom and distressing for her owners to see. I’m glad they have all received some justice with this decision today.”
The 38-year-old has offered to pay for Blossom’s vet bills and has made a $1,000 donation to the RSPCA, 7News reports.
Report animal cruelty by calling 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au
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