Imagine being trapped in a tiny space with no escape, no comfort, and no love. This is the harsh reality for a small corgi confined to a balcony in Melbourne’s CBD.
A concerned neighbor has been filming the dog’s distressing conditions for three months, and the footage has sparked widespread outrage online.
A Life of Neglect
The videos show the corgi nervously pacing the narrow outdoor space, shielded only by a grimy glass window. A basic wooden kennel sits at one end of the balcony, lacking any bedding or weather protection.
@heliabdollahi For the past three months, I’ve witnessed a little corgi trapped on a tiny 1.5m balcony of an apartment at 135 A’Beckett St (facing the south side, around level 8 or 9). Rain or shine, day or night—he is always out there. Alone. Cold. Barking. Spinning in circles. No toys, no bed, no food in sight. Just concrete. And silence. (This video is a short sped-up compilation) I reported this to RSPCA Victoria on June 1st, and followed it with emails, detailed descriptions, and video evidence—yet nothing has changed. Just this morning, in the freezing Melbourne rain, he was still out there. Last week, my housemate heard him crying and barking late at night. It was too dark to record, but we both knew what we were hearing. This isn’t a one-off. This is chronic neglect. I’ve seen him spin on that tiny balcony floor endlessly—a heartbreaking sign of anxiety and psychological distress. I’ve seen his tail wag when the owner comes out, desperately trying to connect. But the owner doesn’t even acknowledge him. Doesn’t pet him. Doesn’t let him inside. The corgi literally hesitates to step over the threshold, like he’s been conditioned to know he’s not allowed inside his own home. One time, the owner came out to sweep what looked like three separate piles of faeces—each one enough to fill a dustpan (as seen in video). That means this dog had been left out there long enough to go to the toilet multiple times, alone, without being walked or cared for. You don’t need to be an animal behaviourist to see that this dog is not okay. This is emotional abuse, and it’s completely preventable. Melbourne is freezing right now—I can barely handle the cold inside my apartment. I can’t even imagine how this small dog is surviving out there night after night. I’ve done what I can behind the scenes, but nothing is changing. So now, I’m turning to all of you. Please help me get RSPCA Victoria’s attention. Share this video. Tag them. Comment. Make noise. Demand accountability. And if someone from RSPCA sees this: I’ve even offered to foster him. I’ll care for him until he finds a permanent home. But right now, he’s suffering. Please do something. @RSPCA Victoria #RSPCAVictoria #AnimalNeglect #MelbourneDogs #AnimalAbuseAwareness #DogNeglect #AnimalWelfare #MelbournePetCommunity #Melbournepetrescue #dogsofvictoria #RSPCA #dogs #corgi #fyp #Melbourne ♬ original sound – heliabdollahi
The owner occasionally steps out to clean up large piles of dog faeces, but it’s clear the dog is being neglected. The neighbor, Helia Abdollahi, reported the incident to the RSPCA in Victoria on June 1, but nothing has changed.
Chronic Neglect and Emotional Abuse
Abdollahi described the heartbreaking scene: “Rain or shine, day or night—he is always out there. Alone. Cold. Barking. Spinning in circles
. No toys, no bed, no food in sight. Just concrete. And silence.” The dog’s anxiety and psychological distress are evident in its behavior, and it’s clear the owner is guilty of emotional abuse. The fact that the owner doesn’t even acknowledge the dog, let alone provide comfort or love, is a disturbing sign of neglect.
Frustration with Animal Welfare Laws
The RSPCA has visited the apartment twice, but couldn’t take further action because the dog “technically has access to food and water.” This loophole in Victoria’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA) has sparked criticism from Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, who called the laws “archaic.” Purcell expressed frustration over the legal limitations that prevent authorities from taking action in cases like this.
Community Outrage
The videos have amassed nearly 200,000 views, and the community is outraged. As one user wrote, “As a corgi owner in Melbourne, this makes me so unbelievably angry and upset.” Another user questioned, “What is the point of having a dog? I don’t get it.”
The videos have sparked a necessary conversation about animal welfare and the need for stricter laws to protect animals from neglect and abuse.
A Call to Action
It’s time for change. The Victorian Government committed to rewriting the state’s animal welfare laws almost ten years ago, but it’s still not a priority.
As Purcell said, “Jacinta Allan just hasn’t prioritized it.” The community is calling for action, and it’s time for the government to listen. We must work together to prevent animal neglect and ensure that our furry friends receive the love, care, and comfort they deserve.