Horrifying CCTV footage has emerged of the shocking moment a mother repeatedly slammed her dog into a brick wall in what RSPCA inspectors described as one of the most shocking incidents of animal cruelty they have ever seen.
Linda Marie Deworboies, 47, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the sickening act in Leonora, near Kalgoorlie, 830 kilometres northeast of Perth, on New Year’s Day 2022.
Shocking footage captured on CCTV at a nearby post office showed the pet’s owner walking down a street with her son while holding her dog Buster by the legs.
Deworboies then slammed Buster against the wall several times before punching the defenseless animal in the stomach.
She continued to swing Buster by the leg before he was hit again.
The mother and child continued walking down the street while Deworboies continued to carry the dog.
Buster suffered serious leg injuries but was in pain for 30 days before being taken to the local RSPCA.
Vets immediately arranged for Buster to be treated, but were unable to save him, even after his leg was amputated.
Buster was euthanized four months later.
An RSPCA inspector had previously visited Deworboies’ home and saw the dog was unable to walk properly.
Deworboies was charged after a police officer, who reviewed the gruesome images, recognised the woman.
She appeared in Kalgoorlie Magistrates Court on Wednesday where she was convicted under two sections of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 for being cruel to an animal.
Deworboies was also banned for life from owning pets.
The court heard that Deworboies had previously breached her bail conditions preventing her from being alone with the animals, Western Australia reported.
The court also heard about an unrelated incident previously, when a ranger saw her lift a small dog by its legs before throwing it into a car.
Buster (pictured) suffered severe leg injuries and had to be euthanized in May 2022 after having one of his legs amputated.
The ranger visited her home to remove an adult dog and two puppies from her care while she was out on bail.
During another incident, a police officer saw her throw a rock at another dog.
Magistrate Janie Gibbs said Deworboies showed no remorse for his actions, which she said was evident when he denied assaulting Buster.
Deworboies had previously claimed he was not in Leonora when the incident occurred.
Ms Gibbs said the woman posed a serious risk to animals and her behaviour was unacceptable.
“They say a picture is worth a thousand words. To say this material is shocking is an understatement,” he said.
“It’s violent, it’s cruel. And it’s made considerably worse by the fact that a child, your son, was present and saw what you did to Buster.”
Deworboies was caught on CCTV footage slamming Bester against the brick wall several times before she punched him in the stomach (pictured)
Ms Gibbs dismissed the woman’s claims that she took her frustrations out on Buster because she was stressed and people allegedly wanted to fight her.
RSPCA WA inspection manager Kylie Green said the CCTV footage was one of the most shocking incidents of animal cruelty she had ever seen.
“This was a cruel, deliberate and prolonged attack on a small dog,” Ms Green said.
‘Buster would have been suffering physical pain and emotional trauma throughout the entire experience.’
An animal cruelty charge carries a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine and a five-year jail sentence if a person is convicted of the offence in WA.
