A Perth woman who tried to conceal a bag of methamphetamine inside her miniature dachshund Busta has lashed her guilty verdict as ‘wrong’ outside court.
Police swooped on Tricia Margot Naussedat, 44, after they noticed her car speeding out of a shopping centre car park in Girrawheen in February 2024.
It was alleged that Naussedat took a small package out of her bra after officers informed her they were going to search her vehicle.
She then allegedly attempted to insert the package, said to contain approximately two grams of methamphetamine, into her dog’s anus.
Busta was suffering from swollen, infected and painful anal glands at the time – which Naussedat knew, having taken him to the vet the previous day.
She was charged with failure to comply with a requirement to provide a sample of oral fluid and possession of a prohibited drug.
Magistrate Andrew Maughan ruled Naussedat must pay a $1,750 fine for ‘causing an animal unnecessary harm’, plus $20,238 in court costs.
She lashed the ruling outside court, telling media: ‘It’s his decision, but he’s wrong’.
Busta (pictured) has recovered from the ordeal and is now living with a new family
Like in Busta’s case, the RSPCA are the lead agency in WA for enforcing animal welfare laws
RSPCA inspectors seized Busta after police filed a cruelty report. He has recovered from the ordeal and is now living with a new family.
However, Naussedat is still free to own another animal after RSPCA WA’s calls for a two-year pet ownership ban were dismissed by the judge.
She now has a new dog called Roxy, understood to be a miniature dachshund.
RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said she was pleased with the outcome.
‘The offender knew Busta was in pain and suffering from an infection and that her actions could have caused him more suffering,’ Ms Green said.
‘Her actions are incomprehensible – we sadly see all types of offences against animals from neglect to deliberate cruelty, but this self-serving, blatant offending is a new one for me and I’m glad the offender was brought to justice today.’
The maximum penalty for an animal cruelty offence is a $50,000 fine and five years in prison.
