A GROUP of Clunes residents have raised the alarm over what they claim is a case of animal cruelty gone unaddressed.
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The residents claim an elderly dog has been mistreated for over a year with no access to fresh water on sweltering summer days, no blankets in the depths of winter, and restricted in his movement by excessive chaining.
They also say the dog howls all day while his owner is out and is left in a shoddy kennel surrounded by his own faeces. One former resident said she left Clunes partly because of the howling, and even saw the owner beating the dog one day.
The residents said the RSPCA and Hepburn Shire’s animal control officers have not responded to their pleas for help.
One neighbour said she had “begged” the dog’s owner to build a fence so the animal would not have to be chained. She said she had been having tense conversations with the owner for more than 18 months.
However, she said things came to a head on a 42°C day when she said the dog was chained up and couldn’t access his water bucket.
“I called the RSPCA and the police. Both said they would come out but they said it depended on what other situations were happening and which one was the most extreme,” she said.
She said not only was she concerned for the animal’s welfare, but its barking and howling was destroying the neighbourhood peace.
“At least six properties have been complaining about the noise,” she said.
“I moved to Clunes to have peace. The noise, it sets your nerves on edge.”
A fellow neighbour said the barking permeated her house.
“I’ve phoned the council and no-one’s done anything. He’s just neglected. It’s so wrong,” she said.
“He gets chained up and he gets tangled and he can’t go anywhere.”
Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Neil Newitt said he had spoken to the residents and an investigation was currently underway.
He said council staff had been out to the property and spoken to the dog’s owner.
However, the RSPCA said they did not believe the case was one of animal cruelty.
RSPCA Victoria chief operating officer Jon McGregor said the organisation received two calls in January about the dog’s welfare.
He said an inspector attended the property and saw the elderly dog had access to both shelter and water.
“No further action was required and there have been no further reports received about this matter,” Mr McGregor said.
“If there is additional information about the welfare of this dog, we encourage members of the community to come forward. Due to the high number of animal cruelty reports received on any given day, the Inspectorate has to prioritise its response.”
He said the RSPCA’s Victoria team of inspectors received more than 10,000 reports of animal cruelty each year, and prioritised according to immediate risk. He said an inspector would attend the property again if necessary.
The Advocate was unable to make contact with the dog’s owner.