Medina man fined for dog's death

A Medina man was fined $10,000 and banned from owning a dog for two years at Rockingham Magistrate’s Court today after he was found guilty of animal cruelty.

On November 7, 2014, Charles Laurence Visser drugged his Yorkshire terrier “Morris” with 1200mg of his own back pain medication, before wrapping him in a towel and pillow case and attempting to drown the dog in his laundry sink.

The 57-year-old then buried Morris, who might have still been alive.

The court was told Visser did not have the money to pay a vet to treat the dog’s broken leg and his actions were a “poorly executed act of mercy”.

Magistrate Stephen Wilson said he did not accept Mr Visser’s reason for not getting the dog professional attention.

“There is no excuse to act in that manner,” he said.

“Morris was not afforded the opportunity of professional treatment or treated decently.

“This is an unacceptable treatment of an animal.”

Magistrate Wilson said he believed Mr Visser was aware of the inappropriateness of his actions and was not likely to repeat them and therefore should be able to have the companionship of an animal later in life.

Mr Visser was also ordered to pay court costs of more than $1000 and compensation to the RSPCA for the post mortem procedure.