Woman pleads guilty to animal cruelty charge after video posted on social media
Updated
A 17-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after a dog was filmed being repeatedly kicked in Gracemere in central Queensland.
The video caused an outcry on social media when it surfaced on Friday, prompting a joint police-RSPCA investigation.
Claire Elizabeth West pleaded guilty to animal cruelty in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court this morning.
The court heard the teenager had received a number of upsetting snapchats from her former boyfriend and his new partner.
Her lawyer told the court she had become angry and upset by the videos and took it out on the dog Buster that they had bought together.
West filmed herself kicking the puppy 26 times saying "dog's dead ... how do you like that [name of boyfriend]" and then sent it to him via Snapchat.
Her lawyer told the court she had not meant to hurt the dog and it had no visible injuries.
"She is extremely remorseful — she is completely humiliated and angry at herself for her actions," the lawyer told the court.
"She was in tears earlier this morning when I was interviewing her, but for this one incident, she cares for this dog like it was a child of hers … she loves this dog."
The court heard the 17-year-old, who lives with her mother, received a disability support pension and had been diagnosed with ADD, ODD, behavioural disorders, Asperger's and hearing impairments.
West was placed on a two-year probation order and no conviction was recorded.
The court was told the puppy was currently in the Rockhampton pound, but was due to be released to the teenager's mother today.
Magistrate Jeff Clarke warned if they took the dog back to the house where the teen lived, she would be contravening the prohibition order.
West put her head in her hands when she was told she would not be able to keep the dog.
Photo:
Mother Margaret West leaves Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday. (ABC News: Megan Hendry)
Mr Clarke described it as "quite a despicable act" and also imposed an order that prohibited West from owning a dog for two years.
"Unfortunately I cannot make an order that you not access or maintain social media accounts — I would make that order if that order could be made," Mr Clarke said.
As part of the probation order, West must also undergo counselling and anger management courses.
RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the incident was disturbing.
"If somebody videoed themselves actually abusing an animal — in this case kicking the animal repeatedly and the animal yelping — I mean, that's just no way to carry on," he said.
"It's just very disturbing."
Mr Beatty said the RSPCA was getting a growing number of complaints about animal abuse posted on social media.
"It just sadly appears to be escalating, but I suppose you'd have to say that the only good thing about it is that if someone has posted on social media, normally they can be charged," he said.
Topics: animal-welfare, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, gracemere-4702, rockhampton-4700, qld, australia, brisbane-4000
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