By STEVE GRAY
A WARWICK man has escaped prosecution after his dog became hopelessly entangled around a post and died in the hot sun.
The incident during a heatwave on 3 January drew the ire of neighbours who accused the dog’s owner of neglect.
The neighbours said the dog had no access to water or food and its chain was wrapped around a metal post with no shade.
“It’s rescuer unwrapped the dog off the post, poured water over it when he could find a container and tried to get the dog to drink – but it was too late,” a neighbour said.
Another neighbour photographed the distressed animal shortly before it died, intending to confront the owner when he returned home.
“It was extremely hot that day, that’s the reason we went for a look,” he said.
“The dog was barking in a distressed manner, the owners were not home and you could see the dog tangled up from the road.”
Council staff and the RSPCA attended the scene but the animal, by now in convulsions, could not be revived.
The dog’s body was taken to a local vet, ostensibly for autopsy, but the owner reclaimed the body before an autopsy could be performed. Therefore the cause of death could not be formally determined.
Spokesman for the RSPCA, Michael Beatty, said the dog’s owner was extremely remorseful.
“The situation regarding Rambo was tragic and is the classic scenario of a dog becoming entangled and not being able to reach water or shade,” Mr Beatty said.
“What cannot be seen in the picture was that there was water and shade within reach if the dog had not become entangled.
“It appears that the owner had only recently acquired the dog and expressed his extreme remorse. In the absence of an autopsy we have issued a stern warning but will not be prosecuting.”
A neighbour said the same dog needed help in September or October, when it required food and water.
“There was no fixed water container in the yard when we went over there,” the neighbour said.
She said dogs have been permanently chained in the yard.
