Man dragged dog 800m at up to 80km/h

A Bay of Islands man who admitted dragging a dog behind his car at speeds of up to 80km/h has been remanded in custody for sentence next month.

Joseph Rewha, 51, a beneficiary and fisherman of Rawhiti, pleaded guilty in the Kaikohe District Court this week to a charge of wilfully ill-treating a cross-breed dog on the gravel and tarsealed Rawhiti Rd on February 5 last year.

The charge, brought by the Bay of Islands SPCA under the Animal Welfare Act, can bring three years in jail and/or a fine of up to $50,000.

SPCA prosecutor Jim Boyd said the dog, known as Tipa, slipped his chain while Rewha was away for several days last February. On recovering the dog, the defendant tied Tipa to the towbar of his vehicle by a rope and then drove off.

Tipa soon fell over and was seen by two witnesses bouncing along as it was dragged for about 800m.

Rewha then tied the dog to a tree and drove away.

Witnesses released Tipa from the tree. The dog's injuries included bone showing through its flesh.

Another witness found the dog eight days later with injuries described as "horrific", and drove Tipa to a veterinary clinic.

Examinations showed the dog had deep abrasions, a deep shoulder wound, exposed and severed tendons, skin loss and infection.

Rewha had said he was annoyed because things had been going wrong and he had taken his anger out "on the wrong thing".

Mr Boyd said Tipa had largely recovered but was still scarred and might need to have part of a foot amputated.

The SPCA found Tipa a new home with a family in Auckland.

Judge Hemi Taumaunu remanded Rewha for sentencing on March 22.