A 44-year-old man from Western Australia's far north has been fined $5,000 and banned from owning dogs for five years after neglecting his two dogs, a Great Dane and a Pomeranian. Daniel McLean was sentenced in the Broome Magistrates Court on Friday on two counts of animal cruelty and two counts of failing to comply with directions from an RSPCA inspector.
The court heard that RSPCA WA received a cruelty report in July 2024 about a starving and underweight dog at McLean's residence in Broome. Shire of Broome rangers found the Great Dane, named Morley, in very poor condition and urged McLean to take the dog to a vet. A vet found Morley was emaciated with a body score of two out of nine.
McLean was issued written directions to provide sufficient food and visit the vet weekly for a month, but he failed to comply. In March 2025, RSPCA inspectors found Morley emaciated and resembling a 'walking skeleton', and also observed the Pomeranian, Waldo, was underweight with a tucked abdomen and narrow waist. Both dogs were seized.
Veterinary examinations revealed both dogs were emaciated due to lack of proper nutrition. The Great Dane also had dental disease, ear infections, and a painful eye condition, while the Pomeranian had dental disease and two fractured teeth. Prosecutor Hayley McQueen stated the dogs suffered pain and significant distress over an extended period.
Magistrate Elizabeth Langdon said the dogs were 'very poorly treated' and 'clearly neglected', noting McLean lacked understanding of his responsibilities as an owner. She imposed fines of $2,000 for animal cruelty and $500 for failing to comply with directions, plus legal costs of over $1,300 and reimbursement of over $5,600 to the RSPCA for treatment costs.
