Jordan Doherty
A Keilor man Has been found guilty of cruelty toward an animal after violently kicking a dog at a protest in 2021.
Stipo Cicak (also known as Stephen Cicak) was found guilty in the magistrates court on Tuesday, November 29.
Cicak contested the matter in court, where he argued he acted in self-defence against the animal.
The magistrate ordered Cicak to make a donation in the sum of $2000 to the Lort Smith Animal Hospital, to pay RSPCA Victoria’s court costs of $7000, as well as placing him on an undertaking to be of good behaviour for 12 months.
The magistrate acknowledged that the dog would have been shocked and felt pain and people should not lash out at defenceless animals.
In a statement following the judgement, RSPCA Victoria said it takes every incident of animal cruelty seriously and will work to hold all perpetrators to account.
While RSPCA Victoria acknowledges that the sentencing outcome may have been disappointing to members of the community, a spokesperson said: “We respect the decision of the court. We also acknowledge the current work of the Victorian government to replace the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 with contemporary animal welfare legislation that will reflect the community’s expectation that animal cruelty offenders should be held to account.”
