A Southland man whose dog was found starved to death has been sentenced to community work.
The man's sentencing came after Mike, a tan Staffordshire Bull Terrier, was found dead in his kennel by Invercargill City Council Animal Control officers in June 2023.
SPCA inspectors executed a search warrant and found evidence which suggested Mike had been tethered to the same spot “for an extended period” with a rusty chain.
He was prosecuted for failing to seek veterinary care for the severely malnourished dog.
The ground Mike was restricted to was described as “worn down”.
“His body was in extremely poor condition, emaciated to the point that his ribs, spine, and pelvis were clearly visible,” SPCA said.
A post-mortem confirmed the dog had the lowest possible body condition score.
All of his fat reserves had been depleted, which suggested Mike had been starved over several weeks. His stomach and intestines were “almost entirely empty”.
The offender admitted he had not checked on the dog for “about a week”, but knew he was malnourished.
The man claimed he had not contacted a vet or the SPCA because he could not afford to do so.
He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service at the Invercargill District Court after pleading guilty to charges relating to the treatment of Mike. He was also ordered to pay reparations of $233.88 for veterinary costs and $500 towards legal costs.
He was disqualified from owning dogs for a period of five years.
New regulations on tethering coming soon
SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Mike's death was the result of neglect that could have been avoided.
“Mike’s suffering was entirely avoidable. This case is a clear reminder that if an animal is unwell, seeking veterinary care is not optional. It’s a basic responsibility of pet ownership,” he said.
He said prolonged tethering was “unacceptable and heartbreaking”, which was why the SPCA advocated for new regulations that would be released later this year.
“The prolonged tethering of dogs is an issue that our inspectors deal with daily. While it is difficult to gather accurate numbers, it is safe to say this issue impacts the lives of thousands of dogs in New Zealand.”
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard said in April that the new regulations would give animal welfare inspectors the tools to intervene quickly when dogs are suffering harm from being tied up for long periods.
Hoggard said he had “been hearing a lot from members of the public” who want to see action taken” on the issue of dog chaining.
“Most dog owners in New Zealand treat their animals well and these regulations will have little to no impact upon them,” he said.
“I’m confident these regulations will result in better outcomes for those dogs.
“We have a few steps to follow to get these proposals ready to become law, but it is my expectation that these will be finalised by the end of the year. That will be followed by a short period with a focus on education so that all dog owners understand their obligations and to allow those who need to make changes time to adapt.”
The changes agreed on through Cabinet included:
- “Giving MPI and SPCA Animal Welfare Inspectors the ability to issue fines when they find dogs living in conditions that are often seen when dogs are tethered for long periods, such as heavily worn surfaces, build-up of faecal waste, or displaying behavioural signs of excessive frustration such as excessive barking or self-mutilation;
- “Protections will also be introduced for dogs during vulnerable periods such as when they are pregnant, nursing, or in the first six months of their lives;
- “Appropriate and practical exemptions are also included that will allow temporary tethering of these dogs such as when they are being trained as farm dogs, or when owners might need to restrain their dog when a tradesperson comes onto their property.”
A law change was first proposed and consulted on two years ago. Nearly 30,000 people signed a petition to Parliament on the issue in 2021.
