Jason Allen Heelan: Man banned from owning animals for five years after shocking abuse case against puppy

A man has been banned from owning a pet and fined thousands of dollars after he failed to take his four-month-old injured puppy to the vet after it was hit by a car. The Staffordshire terrier cross, named Diamond, was seriously injured after becoming trapped under a car wheel, prompting the RSPCA WA to receive an animal cruelty report in late 2023. A RSPCA WA inspector attended a St James address in October last year, where they found Diamond struggling to stand and her left hind leg swollen. “She was limping when encouraged to walk and was only able to take a few steps before lying back down again,” a statement said. “She also had red open wounds on the front of her head and her thigh area.” A man at the property, Jason Allen Heelan, told the inspector another man at the home had already taken Diamond to the vet and brazenly claimed her injuries had “pretty much healed,” the RSPCA said. “The inspector was told the puppy was given pain relief at that initial vet visit, but there was no concern about possible broken bones.” “However, RSPCA WA’s investigation revealed the emergency vet had only been able to provide basic first aid to the puppy due to the owner’s financial constraints but had given the man strict instructions to take the dog to her regular vet the following day.” When both a verbal and written notice ordering the puppy to be taken back to the vet within 24 hours were ignored, police attended the property before the man claimed he hadn’t taken the dog to the vet because she had since ran away. It was later revealed the man attempted to hide the dog from the RSPCA at another address, which he initially denied. “Diamond was taken to the Animal Care Centre in Malaga where it was found she was suffering from a painful fractured pelvis,” they said. Heelan, 47, was sentenced in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday, where Magistrate Elizabeth Woods banned him from owning an animal for five years. He was convicted on three charges related to his cruel treatment of Diamond and was forced to pay more than $2,500 in court costs and another $1000 for breaching a suspended imprisonment order. Since his offending, and almost a year since the RSPCA were called to investigate, Diamond has been adopted by a loving family who initially took her in as a foster. RSPCA WA Inspector Manager Kylie Green said the man “severely” let the puppy down. “Diamond was so little when this ordeal happened to her, and she was not given the care and dignity she deserved at that time,” she said. “Pets rely totally on their owners to provide the care they need, and in this case, Diamond’s owner severely let her down.” 1300 Cruelty (1300 278 358)