A BRISBANE man could face jail if found guilty of cutting the ears off an eight-week-old puppy with a pair of scissors, the RSPCA said today.
Inspectors from the animal welfare group seized the American staffordshire terrier south of Brisbane at the weekend after a tip-off about a cruelly mutilated animal.
The ears had been cut off to make the puppy “look tough”, a practice that is carried out in illegal dog fighting circles, RSPCA inspector Daniel Young said today.
“It's an eight-week old American staffy male pup,” Mr Young said.
“We received information about a dog having its ears chopped off.
“We attended the address and located the pup, obviously with no ears, and we've spoken to a person of interest who later admitted to chopping its ears off with scissors.”
The dog had received no sedation or pain relief following its ordeal.
Mr Young said he was appalled someone would inflict such pain on an animal, particularly one so young.
“I have seen dogs with their ears chopped off in the past, but I've never seen an eight-week pup with its ears cut off.”
The pup has now been temporarily fostered with a Brisbane family.
It was starting to recover and had suffered no damage to its hearing, but would be scarred for life.
Mr Young said a man in his early 20s was under investigation.
Police said any charges would be laid by RSPCA inspectors under the Animal Care and Protection Act, which carries a maximum $75,000 fine and two years in prison.
The RSPCA was hoping any penalty imposed would act as a deterrent to others.
“Magistrates are starting to realise that issues like this are not tolerated by the public and are starting to give heftier fines,” Mr Young said.
The RSPCA hoped the dog would soon find a caring, permanent home.
That owner :rl:
it was so bizarre!!! the dog... they call him "handsome" is such a sweet, cute and affectionate dog that craves for his attention sheesh.. he is always left alone outside most of the time... 
