Her owner had taken her to a vet once after the injury occurred but had not been able to provide the ongoing treatment she needed.

"I seized Bella and took her for urgent veterinary care," said SPCA inspector Sam. "She had a surgery to clean and close the wound.

"Then, while Bella was recovering in SPCA care, a report came in about a second dog named Bruiser from the same owner.

"Bruiser was scarred, had fresh and healing wounds all over her," said Sam.

"The defendant confirmed that Bruiser had been injured and he'd used a stapler on her wound – not seeking any vet care. So I seized her too.

"Bella and Bruiser thrived in SPCA care and were adopted to new families. The defendant was sentenced to a short term of imprisonment and disqualified from owning pets."

SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen says vet affordability is often the cause of acts like this.

She says people want to address an issue with their pet and take it into their own hands because they can't afford the treatment and care they need.

Midgen says often it's a lack of education, rather than malice driving people to these acts.

She says more education is needed to stop people attempting home surgeries on their pets.

She says SPCA inspectors around the country spend a lot of time educating people.
Meanwhile, vets are defending their charges.

Veterinary Association president Grant McCullough contends vet care is not expensive, given what's involved.

He says the trouble is one of perception because human healthcare is subsidised.

McCullough is urging people to get health insurance for their pets because things can often happen unexpectedly.

He says pet insurance gives protection against that, and there are a number of very good companies that provide it.