Plight of starving dogs prompts hunger strike

Francine Shields

Whangarei SPCA's Francine Shields is on a hunger strike because she is sick of seeing dogs in the region starve to death.

While the measure may sound extreme, Ms Shields said it was necessary to highlight the issue, especially after a spate of severe emaciation cases last month.

"I think it comes out of frustration more than anything," she said. "I thought 'I really do have to get the word out there'."

People need to report if they see an animal they are concerned about and owners should seek help early if they are struggling to feed their animals, Ms Shields said.

The three-day hunger strike started yesterday but was sparked by the record number of dogs picked up last month by Whangarei SPCA inspectors, she said.

While Ms Shields had 23 years of experience as an inspector, and is now chief inspector, she believed the issue had never been as bad as it was now.

An emaciated male terrier crossbred was near death when it was rescued by police officers on October 17.

People at the property had found him a week earlier, tied him to a fence and left him to die.

On October 30 two emaciated 7-month-old whippet crossbred puppies were rescued, although a recently deceased dog was found in the adjacent kennel.

Ms Shields said all cases of animals starving were entirely preventable.

"To be honest with animals in these conditions the owners are very blase."

Some of the worst excuses Ms Shields had heard were that owners forgot, it was not their dog or they simply did not like the animal so refused to feed it.

She said it not only takes a lot of effort to care for an emaciated dog but it can also cost up the SPCA up to $5000 per animal.

"I want to do something that will draw attention to any other dogs that are right now tied up somewhere, slowly starving to death," Ms Shields said.

"I want to put my hand up and ask the good people in our community to help us stop it from happening again."