Man banned from owning pet after dog found with maggot-infested wound

WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: A man who let his dog’s health deteriorate to a point where maggots were living inside a wound on its back has been banned from owning a pet for five years.

The elderly Maltese terrier cross was completely immobile, severely emaciated and covered in his own faeces when RSPCA inspectors arrived at its Green Valley home, west of Sydney, on December 18, 2018.

A large wound on the animal’s back had pus seeping out of it and contained live maggots, the RSPCA said, with the dog also showing signs of haemorrhagic diarrhoea – a disorder causing vomiting and bloody diarrhoea.

The area around his anus and tail was soaked with bloody diarrhoea, his coat was matted around the ears, he had fleas and most of his teeth were missing.

Sepsis in the dog’s body had caused him to also suffer severe anaemia, low blood glucose and low blood albumin.

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Disturbing images shared by RSPCA NSW showed a blackened wound with yellow pus seeping out and small maggots crawling around the opening.

After being surrendered to the RSPCA and undergoing a medical examination, it was determined the dog was in such a poor condition that it would be too cruel to keep him alive so he was euthanised.

His 56-year-old owner faced Liverpool Local Court on January 17 where he was charged with committing an act of aggravated cruelty towards the dog, the RSPCA said.

The RSPCA reported the court heard the man had not taken the dog to the vet and had used an anti-inflammatory cream meant for humans on the wound.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order on the condition he maintained good behaviour and appeared in court if required.

The man was also fined $1000 which was to be awarded to RSPCA NSW, and banned from purchasing, acquiring or taking possession or custody of any animal for a period of five years.

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