Jason Adam Reichert: WA man convicted of animal cruelty for punching, throwing scissors at puppy

A 32-year-old man has been fined $4000 and banned from owning an animal for five years after throwing a pair of scissors at his young puppy, punching it in the face and throwing it across a room. Jason Adam Reichert was sentenced on two charges of animal cruelty in Rockingham Magistrates Court on November 3 for incidents related to his weeks-old staffy-kelpie cross, Choppa. RSPCA WA seized Choppa, who was nine weeks old at the time, on April 4 after it was reported that Reichert punched the dog in the face. When the RSPCA investigated the April offence, another incident came to light that had occurred the previous month. During the Rockingham man’s court appearance, the court was told that Reichert had been seen in March throwing scissors at Choppa before punching the dog twice in the face and throwing him across the room. “‘Everyone would agree that a nine-week-old puppy should be protected, which was not provided here,” Magistrate Anne Longden said during the sentencing. Magistrate Longden ordered for Choppa to be forfeited to the Crown and convicted Reichert under sections 19(1) and 19(2)(a) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002. The maximum penalty for a charge of animal cruelty is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison. RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said there was no excuse for deliberately hurting an animal. “Choppa weighed just five and a half kilos when we seized him and was still so young,” she said. “Imagine his pain, terror and confusion at being subjected to such cowardly and brutal treatment. “Animals rely on us for absolutely everything, including a sense of safety and security. “To betray that trust in such a way is just unimaginable.” Following Choppa’s seizure, RSPCA WA said the pup was “thriving” in foster care. The RSPCA relies on the community to report incidents of suspected cruelty and neglect. Report cruelty 24/7 on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 358) or at rspcawa.org.au