A woman in Auckland, New Zealand, has been sentenced to two months in jail after her dog, who was severely obese, died.
The dog, named Nuggi, was discovered by police in 2021 weighing almost 120 pounds and almost unable to move, according to a statement from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
The authorities removed Nuggi from his owner’s Auckland home where police found “a number of” dogs and placed him under the care of the SPCA.
Despite losing 19.6 pounds in two months under the SPCA’s care — about 16.5 percent of his body weight, Nuggi died from a liver hemorrhage. An autopsy revealed that he had further health complications, including liver disease and Cushing’s disease, according to the organization.
The release states that the owner pleaded guilty to failing to meet the dog’s physical, health, and behavioral needs and was sentenced in Manukau District Court in Auckland to two months’ jail time and a fine of 1,222 New Zealand dollars ($720). She is also reportedly barred from owning any dogs for a year.
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Nuggi’s obesity was so severe that veterinarians couldn’t hear his heartbeat with a stethoscope due to the layer of fat, the SPCA statement said. Additionally, his claws were allegedly overgrown, and he had numerous skin growths, particularly on contact areas like his stomach and elbows. Nuggi also suffered from conjunctivitis.
SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Nuggi was “drastically overfed” and “clearly” not being given appropriate care.
“Nuggi was one of the most obese animals we’ve ever come across,” Westwood said in a statement. He noted that his colleagues are more accustomed to caring for malnourished dogs.
“Sadly, we see animals on a daily basis that are underweight, starved or malnourished, but it’s equally heartbreaking to see a helpless animal that’s been severely overfed,” Westwood said.
The SPCA’s statement alleges that Nuggi’s owner fed him up to 10 pieces of chicken a day, as well as dry food.
When veterinarians took Nuggi away from his owner, the dog reportedly struggled to walk about 10 meters to the car, stopping three times to catch his breath. “His legs could not support his huge body,” the SPCA stated.
“Part of being a responsible dog owner is providing your pet with an appropriate diet and daily exercise, which was clearly not the case here. Nuggi was being drastically overfed, and instead of seeking help or amending the behaviour, his owner continued to overfeed him until he could barely walk. This is unacceptable,” Westwood added.
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