Man charged with ill treatment of an animal after alleged incident in Parafield, Adelaide
The dog’s owner first saw the footage on social media.
A man has been arrested over the alleged mistreatment of a dog outside a hardware store after social media footage sparked widespread outrage on the weekend.
Police said an investigation began on Sunday when a man reported seeing a post showing his dog being kicked in a Bunnings car park in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
The footage, which circulated widely online, appeared to show the dog being struck while tied up in the back of a ute.
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He has been charged with ill treatment of an animal.
Witnesses say the four‑year‑old dog’s only “offence” was barking.
Kaitlin Alcorn told 7NEWS the scene quickly turned chaotic at the Parafield Bunnings in Adelaide’s north.
“There was lots of yelling and screaming, hands being thrown in the air, middle fingers given,” she said.
Anyone found guilty of aggravated ill‑treatment of an animal currently faces up to four years’ jail or a $10,000 fine — penalties that will soon increase dramatically.
“When the new Animal Welfare Act comes into force, the penalties will be raised up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in prison,” RSPCA SA’s Andrea Lewis told 7NEWS.
The 48-year-old is due to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Courts later this month.
Originally published on 7NEWS
