2016 LIST OF SHAME

Our SPCA Inspectors see many cases of horrible animal abuse, neglect and cruelty. This List
of Shame is the culmination of these the very worst cases the SPCA has investigated and
prosecuted this year.
Last year our SPCA Inspectors investigated a record 15,219 animal welfare complaints which led to
61 successful prosecutions. Running the SPCA Inspectorate costs approximately $9 million each
year, and we receive no direct government funding to do this vital work.
This week were asking all New Zealanders to give for justice and donate generously at
www.spcaannualappeal.org.nz.
1. A Christchurch man was convicted of wilfully ill-treating his six month old
puppy and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment and disqualified from
owning any animals for life.
Over a period of six weeks he inflicted severe and widespread blunt force
trauma injuries on his puppy. She had over 11 fractures, including her lower
jaw, both thigh bones, multiple head and rib fractures, and fractures on three
out of four legs. She had massive swelling and distortion to her face and
head, could not see out of her right eye and could not open her jaw. She
was also in emaciated body condition with muscle loss present
over her whole body. Sadly, due to immediate
welfare concerns and the grave long-term
outlook the puppy had to be euthanased.

2. A Te Kuiti man was convicted of wilfully ill-treating his

dog and sentenced to 4 months community detention,
fined $1,500.00, ordered to pay reparations of $344.84 and
disqualified from owning dogs for a period of 10 years.
The man was seen by a number of witnesses beating his dog.
When SPCA Inspectors arrived, the dog was found to be in mild
shock, had obvious bruising and swelling around her left hind
limb, was bleeding from both nostrils, had swollen eyes and
ears, a puncture wound on her forehead and bloody diarrhea
and urine. In the care of the SPCA the dog has made a full
recovery and was adopted by her foster family.
3. A Horowhenua woman was convicted of
ill-treating her horse and sentenced to 120
hours community work, ordered to pay reparations of
$492.50 and disqualified from owning horses for a period of 2 years.
When SPCA Inspectors found the horse it had collapsed and was
very underweight. Sadly the horses condition was so severe he
was euthanised on humane grounds. A veterinary examination
showed the horse was suffering malnutrition, parasites and gastric
inflammation.

2016 LIST OF SHAME

4. A Shannon man was convicted of recklessly illtreating two bull calves and sentenced to 200 hours
community work, ordered to pay $712.40 in reparations
and $750.00 in solicitor costs and disqualified from
owning production animals for a period of 5 years.
When SPCA Inspectors visited his property they found
one calf dead against a fence, and a second collapsed
and unable to stand. His condition so severe that he
had to be euthanased. Both calves were emaciated
and found to be suffering from chronic malnutrition
and a severe internal parasite burden.

5. A stray puppy was taken in to the Rotorua SPCA. The puppy could not stand and was
unresponsive. He was covered in severe mange, emaciated and suffered from parvovirus a very
contagious and painful illness for dogs.
The puppy had to be euthanased on humane grounds and the person or persons responsible have
never been located.

6. An Auckland woman was convicted of wilfully illtreating her dog and sentenced to 120 hours community
work, ordered to pay $1000.00 in reparations and
disqualified from owning animals for a period of 10 years.
When SPCA Inspectors found the dog, she was chained
up, emaciated, had demodectic mange, ringworm,
bi-lateral chronic ear infections and chronic anaemia
as a result of an extremely high parasite burden. In the
care of the SPCA the dog has made a full recovery and
now leads a happy, healthy life.

7. A Christchurch man was convicted of ill-treating his dog

and sentenced to 200 hours community work, ordered to pay
reparations of $626.00 and disqualified from owning dogs for
a period of 5 years.
The man got drunk and hit his dog with a spade, breaking both
bones in her left leg. The next day, despite being aware of his
dogs injuries he did not seek veterinary treatment because he
was afraid of the repercussions. Sadly the dogs injury was so
severe that her leg needed to be amputated.

2016 LIST OF SHAME

8. A Waikanae man was convicted of deserting four young
kittens in which no provision was made for their physical, health
and behavioural needs. The kittens were deserted on the
side of the road in mid-winter. He was sentenced to 80 hours
community work, ordered to pay $614.52 in reparations and
$100 in legal costs. He was disqualified from owning felines for a
period of 5 years.
In the care of the SPCA all four kittens
recovered from the ordeal and were
adopted by new families.

9. An Auckland woman was charged with failing to ensure that the physical,
health and behavioural needs of her animals were met. Her two dogs
were found living inside a garage in very thin body condition, dehydrated
significant muscle atrophy. Her two cats were confined inside a single
crate in filthy conditions and no food or water.
The woman is currently awaiting sentencing. After receiving care at the
SPCA, all four animals were adopted by new families.
10. A Hamilton woman was convicted of deserting an adult cat and 7
kittens in circumstances in which no provision was made to meet their
physical, health and behavioural needs and sentenced to 120 hours community
work, ordered to pay $157.03 in reparations and $200.00 in
court costs and disqualified from owning animals for 2 years.
The woman moved out of her Hamilton property and left the cats and kittens behind. When SPCA
Inspectors found them almost a month later, all were suffering from a significant flea burden, four
kittens were underweight, two kittens had eye infections and two had to be humanely euthanised
because they were suffering from a congenital condition, leaving them with maggot infested holes
where their tails should have been.
11. An Ashhurst man was convicted of ill-treating his dog and
sentenced to a fine of $1,875.00, ordered to pay $162.50 in
reparations, $130.00 court costs and $300.00 solicitor costs.
The man, a farmer with more than 30 years farming
experience, noticed some fly eggs on his elderly working dog
and used disinfectant to kill them. He didnt check to see if
it had worked and two days later SPCA Inspectors found the
dog unresponsive to both voice and touch. He was suffering
from a severe maggot infestation from the base of his tail to
his shoulder blades, and the skin along his back was oozing a
bloody discharge.
Due to the dogs condition and it being likely he was also
suffering from septic shock, he was humanely euthanised.

2016 LIST OF SHAME

12. A Hamilton woman was convicted of failing to ensure that
the physical health and behavioural needs of her cat were met
and sentenced to a fine of $200.00, ordered to pay $558.46 in
reparations, legal costs of $200.00 and disqualified from owning
animals for a period of 5 years.
The woman failed to provide veterinary treatment for a large open
wound across the cats shoulders, which required surgery and
antibiotics. Fortunately after vet care the cat made a full recovery
and was re-homed.
13. Canterbury SPCA Inspectors attended a property in
Northcote, Christchurch and discovered one dog who had recently
died of starvation being eaten by two surviving dogs, both of whom
were emaciated. One was so bad she was recumbent and her body
had begun to shut down. Sadly both dogs had to be euthanised on
humane grounds.
The person or persons responsible have never been located.

14. An Opotiki man was convicted of failing to provide veterinary

treatment for his dog and sentenced to a $1000.00 fine, ordered
to pay $337.02 in reparations and $150.00 in solicitor costs and
disqualified from owning companion animals for a period of 1 year.
The man failed to provide veterinary treatment for his dog who had
a fractured leg. When the SPCA offered assistance and provided
initial veterinary treatment, he hid the dog until it was eventually
found and taken in to the possession of an SPCA Inspector. The dog
was suffering degenerative joint disease, possible ligament rupture,
ongoing chronic pain and disability and sadly had to be euthanised
on humane grounds.

15. A Palmerston North man was convicted of using a prohibited

trap for the purpose of capturing an animal and sentenced to a
$500.00 fine, ordered to pay court costs of $130.00 and solicitor
costs of $250.00.
The man set a prohibited long spring leg hold trap on his property
in suburban Palmerston North for the purpose of capturing cats
to protect his garden. He caught his neighbours cat causing two
fractures in its paw. The cat underwent surgery and thankfully
made a full recovery.