After complaint by animal welfare activists - Dog overfed: Two months imprisonment for New Zealander
A New Zealander woman has been sentenced to two months in prison, according to animal welfare activists, for overfeeding her dog named Nuggi. The dog was seized by the renowned animal welfare organization SPCA (Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Incorporated) from a house search in 2021 and later died from the consequences of his obesity, as stated in a press release. Most New Zealand media reported extensively on the unusual verdict.
"Nuggi was undoubtedly one of the most obese animals we have ever seen," the organization stated, which had prosecuted the dog owner in court. "He was so large that he could barely walk, and he was clearly suffering from the significant weight he carried," it continued. Nuggi had to stop three times on the ten meters he had to run from the property to the car to catch his breath. His legs could barely carry his enormous body.
Too much Fat for the Stethoscope
A veterinary examination reportedly revealed that the four-legged animal weighed 53.7 kilograms. Veterinarians were unable to hear his heartbeat with a stethoscope due to the fat not penetrating the sound. In addition, a bind tissue inflammation was diagnosed.
The condition of the dog was shocking for SPCA employees, said Todd Westwood, CEO of SPCA. "Unfortunately, we see animals every day that are underweight, half-starved or undernourished, but it's just as heartbreaking to see a helpless animal that is severely overfed."
Nuggi spent approximately two months in the care of SPCA, where he lost 8.9 kilograms – about 16.5 percent of his body weight. However, he suddenly died from an acute bleeding due to a liver tumor rupture. An autopsy revealed further health complications related to the unhealthy obesity, including a liver disease.
The dog owner admitted to SPCA, according to reports, that she had not met the physical and health needs of the dog. In court in Manukau, south of Auckland, she allegedly said she had given Nuggi eight to ten pieces of chicken and additional treats daily.
"A responsible dog owner provides his pet with adequate nutrition and daily exercise, which was clearly not the case here," explained Westwood. Her failure to seek help was unacceptable. The woman was not only sentenced to prison but also had to pay approximately 670 Euros in fines and was banned from owning dogs for twelve months.
Despite the woman's assertion of feeding Nuggi eight to ten pieces of chicken and extra treats daily, the level of obesity was alarming. The veterinary examination revealed that Nuggi couldn't be examined properly due to the excessive fat, a clear indication of his unhealthy diet. This situation led to fines, prison time, and a ban on owning dogs for twelve months, highlighting Justice's role in ensuring animal welfare. Fortunately, even before his sudden death from a liver tumor rupture and associated health complications, Nuggi had lost weight during his time in the automatic feeding system at the SPCA facility, demonstrating that even in difficult situations, improvements can be made.
