Broome woman Zynetta Keiara Bin Hitam, who let dog become infested with ticks, banned from pet ownership

WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGES A Broome woman has been fined more than $5000 for neglecting her dog to the point where it was severely underweight and “encrusted with thousands of blood-filled ticks.” Zynetta Keiara Bin Hitam, 33, came to the attention of authorities after the RSPCA received a cruelty report on December 7 2020, with concerns her Bullmastiff dog was severely underweight and infested with ticks. An RSPCA inspector was assigned to the case and an order was made for Bin Hitam to take her dog, ‘Bobbi’, to the vet within seven days to alleviate the animal’s condition and provide a health report. The court heard Bin Hitam ignored the order and never made a trip to the vet, which prompted the inspector to send her a text message outlining the urgency of the request. In response, Bin Hitam texted, “No one home. With kids. Bobby is fine.” The inspector attempted to phone Bin Hitam to inform her a Shire of Broome ranger would be attending the property, but she avoided the calls and said, “I don’t open the door to strangers.” Later that day, the inspector made arrangements to remove the dog from Bin Hitam’s possession and at about 5:05pm Bobbi was officially seized by the RSPCA, with assistance from the ranger and WA Police. Bobbi was taken to Broome Veterinary Clinic where it was reported she was extremely underweight, lethargic, suffering from anemia, a fever and a severe tick infestation which caused her ears to become encrusted. The dog had also developed Ehrlichiosis from the thousands of ticks which were feeding on her blood and the court heard it would have “taken weeks, if not months” of neglect to reach the state she was in. Bin Hitam was issued a $3750 fine and an additional penalty of $2068, as well as a 10 year prohibition order which would prevent her from owning or being in contact with a dog for that time. RSPCA animal and enforcement operations executive manager Hannah Dreaver said she was shocked by Bobbi’s condition. “It must have been so painful for Bobbi and the itching would have driven her mad,” she said. “There’s no excuse to let an animal suffer like Bobbi did.” Ms Dreaver said Bobbi is now in the care of RSPCA WA and is healthy, happy and, “one of the biggest snugglers” they have come across.