A man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty offenses in Sydney, Australia, following the release of a video showing him beating a dog. The incident occurred in the western Sydney suburb of Bidwill.
The distressing footage, captured by a witness and shared by the advocacy group Australians Against Animal Abuse, depicts a man striking a medium-sized white dog with a wooden plank. The animal appeared distressed and cowered in a debris-strewn backyard. The man was also seen lifting and dropping a chair onto the dog.
Mt Druitt Police identified and charged a Bidwill man on Tuesday with two counts of aggravated cruelty to an animal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Police allege the offenses took place on August 23.
The dog has since been removed from the property and is under the care of the RSPCA, according to Australians Against Animal Abuse. The group stated the animal was "terrified and highly distressed" when authorities first attended.
This incident occurs as new figures highlight the ongoing issue of animal cruelty in New South Wales. The RSPCA's latest animal welfare report documented nearly 18,000 reports of animal cruelty in the 2025-26 financial year. The City of Blacktown, where Bidwill is located, recorded the highest number of dogs and cats taken in by RSPCA NSW, as well as the greatest number of animal welfare investigations in the state during that period.
In New South Wales, the maximum penalty for aggravated animal cruelty offenses includes a fine of up to $22,000 or two years imprisonment for an individual.