Cruel dog owner who left his Staffordshire terrier puppy’s horrific injuries untreated is learning his fate

A man who did not take his seriously injured animal to the vet after she was hit by a car has been banned from owning another animal for five years.

Jason Allen Heelan, 47, has also been ordered to pay thousands of dollars over the shocking case of animal abuse of four-month-old Staffordshire terrier Diamond.

The dog suffered serious injuries, including a fracture, after becoming trapped under a car wheel in 2023.

The court heard the RSPCA WA inspector attended a Perth address last October after receiving a report of animal cruelty.

The RSPCA inspector noted that Diamond had difficulty standing and had a swollen left hind leg. The Western Australia reported.

“She limped when encouraged to walk and was only able to take a few steps before lying down again,” the statement said.

‘She also had red open wounds on the front of her head and her thigh.’

The court heard Heelan was in the property at the time and told the inspector that another man living there had taken Diamond to the vet and that her injuries were ‘substantially healed’.

After being hit by a car and pinned under the wheel, the four-month-old puppy (pictured) suffered a ‘painful’ broken pelvis and other wounds

The RSPCA inspector noticed Diamond had difficulty standing and had a swollen left hind leg (pictured) – as well as head and leg wounds

“The inspector was told that the puppy received pain relief during the first visit to the vet, but there were no concerns about possible bone fractures,” the RSPCA said.

RSPCA WA launched an investigation and found an emergency vet only provided first aid to Diamond due to ‘the owner’s financial constraints’.

But the emergency doctor did give the man ‘strict instructions’ to take Diamond to her regular vet the next day.

The RSCPA gave verbal and written notices to the owner to take Diamond to a vet within 24 hours – a request that was ignored, the court heard.

When the police visited the building. Heelan claimed he couldn’t take Diamond to the vet because she had run away.

It was later discovered that Heelan was trying to hide Diamond from the RSPCA at another address, which he initially denied.

Diamond was later seized and taken to the RSPA Animal Care Center where she was found to be suffering from ‘a painful pelvic fracture’.

Heelan appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday where he was convicted on three charges relating to his cruel treatment of Diamond.

Diamond (recently pictured) has recovered and returned to the family that originally cared for her as a young puppy

In addition to a five-year ban, Heelan was ordered to pay more than $2,500 in court costs and a further $1,000 fine for breaching a suspended prison sentence.

Diamond has since made a full recovery and was adopted by a loving family who originally fostered her.

Heelan had ‘severely’ let Diamond down, RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said.

“Diamond was so small when this ordeal happened to her, and she did not receive the care and dignity she deserved at that time,” she said.