{"id":5120,"date":"2026-05-05T10:13:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T10:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/5120\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T10:13:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T10:13:16","slug":"puppy-torturing-couple-heckled-by-locals-after-bail-renewed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/5120\/","title":{"rendered":"Puppy torturing couple heckled by locals after bail renewed"},"content":{"rendered":"

The RSPCA is pushing for an immediate jail term for a couple who abused and tortured an 11-week-old puppy to death.<\/p>\n

WARNING: Readers are advised that this story contains details of animal cruelty,which some people may find distressing.<\/p>\n

Nathan James Dekkers and Isabel Maree Busher, both 26, had previously pleaded guilty to more than a dozen animal cruelty charges, including beating and tormenting a puppy, and misleading RSPCA investigators.<\/p>\n

\"Douglas<\/p>\n

Busher and Dekkers tortured and killed 11-week-old puppy Douglas in 2024. (Supplied: RSPCA)<\/p>\n

The pair were due to be sentenced in the Busselton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, but the case was adjourned for five months after Busher’s defence lawyer pushed for a psychiatric report, which was expected to take 20 weeks.<\/p>\n

\"Police<\/p>\n

Busselton police maintained a heavy presence outside the courthouse during the couple’s appearance. (ABC South West WA: Georgia Loney)<\/p>\n

There was a strong police presence outside the courthouse, with a group of 10 protesters yelling at Dekker and Busher as they arrived and departed court.<\/p>\n

Trauma history<\/p>\n

RSPCA prosecutors Ruby Harris and Ian Wheldon strongly opposed the defence’s request, describing it as “clutching at straws”.<\/p>\n

The animal cruelty charges relate to the abuse of an 11-week-old bull terrier puppy, named Douglas, over several weeks in December 2024.<\/p>\n

The couple also pleaded guilty to providing false information to an RSPCA Inspector during a search of their home.<\/p>\n

\"Isabel<\/p>\n

Isabel Busher’s defence lawyer requested she undergo additional psychiatric assessment. (ABC South West WA: Georgia Loney)<\/p>\n

Defence lawyer Michelle Huber told the court the results of a neuropsychological report indicated a further psychiatric assessment was required for Busher.<\/p>\n

While mindful of the delay, Ms Huber said the psychological report had noted Busher’s history of complex trauma and anxiety.<\/p>\n

She said there were concerns about Busher’s functional literacy.<\/p>\n

‘Clutching at straws’<\/p>\n

Prosecutors told the court the charges and offenses were so serious that an immediate jail term was required.<\/p>\n

RSPCA lawyer Ian Wheldon said he could not see the utility of a psychiatric report.<\/p>\n

“It’s simply not true there is functional illiteracy \u2026 it’s clutching at straws,” he said.<\/p>\n

“There has been ample time to prepare.”<\/p>\n

Magistrate Stephen Butcher noted the neuropsychological report had offered few mitigating factors for Busher, but he was prepared to order the psychiatric assessment it recommended.<\/p>\n

\"Nathan<\/p>\n

Nathan Dekkers leaves Busselton Courthouse after the sentencing was adjourned. (ABC South West WA: Georgia Loney)<\/p>\n

He adjourned the case until October 9, with the couple’s bail extended until that date.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The RSPCA is pushing for an immediate jail term for a couple who abused and tortured an 11-week-old…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5121,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[6384,22,21,6389,6394,6388,6387,6393,6391,6390,6392,1686,464],"class_list":["post-5120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-animal-cruelty","tag-au","tag-austrlia","tag-busselton-puppy","tag-dog-cruelty","tag-isabel-busher","tag-nathan-dekkers","tag-puppy-abuse","tag-puppy-beaten","tag-puppy-tortured","tag-rspca","tag-south-west-news","tag-wa-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5120\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5121"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}