'Cooked' dog owner charged

A 74-year-old former cowboy says she will defend a charge over the death of her dog, allegedly left to die in a hot car at a Christchurch mall.

Annabell Quor's 10-year-old pomeranian Midgy died in a car parked at The Palms shopping centre just before Christmas.

The SPCA has charged Ms Quor with reckless ill-treatment of an animal. She could face up to three years in prison, a fine not exceeding $75,000, or both.

It's estimated the temperature in the car reached 33.4degC.

However, Ms Quor, former shearer and rodeo cowboy, said the SPCA was making an unnecessary example of her. "I'm not guilty of what they said. They just want to make a thing out of it," she told The Christchurch Star.

"Why don't they get into these gangs that do dog fighting and pinch little dogs like that to get them ripped up?"

In December, SPCA manager Geoff Sutton said a dog or any animal trapped in a hot car would literally "cook" to death.

"It cooks really, from the brain, the blood, every part of it. A dog doesn't sweat like you and I do. A dog can only cool itself down through panting."

- NZPA