A man has been charged after allegedly making a false report of an animal cruelty incident in Newcastle.
Police say that on Sunday 5 October 2025, officers were told a rottweiler had been assaulted by a group of young people while tethered to a tree in Newcastle West on Friday 3 October, and later euthanised because of its injuries.
An investigation was launched by Newcastle City Police District, with officers reviewing CCTV and speaking with witnesses in the area.
Police will allege the dog was never in the location at the time of the reported incident and that the animal had a history of chronic hip and osteoarthritic pain, which ultimately led to it being euthanised.
Around 2:40pm on Friday 10 October, detectives attended a Charlestown home and spoke with the dog’s owner.
The 42-year-old man was issued a court attendance notice for false representation resulting in a police investigation and is due to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 27 November 2025.
