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Fines totalling $3800 for starving and dumping a dog on a snowy night have been imposed in a case described by counsel for the SPCA as "at the extreme end of appalling animal treatment".
Lawyer Richard Raymond said: "A message needs to be sent with a stern fine, and for the court to give some teeth to the legislation and send a signal to bring home to this offender that it is simply unacceptable conduct."
A veterinarian said the dobermann, Sheba, was within a week or two of death when it was found.
Rodney John Burt, a 50-year-old builder's labourer from Christchurch, today pleaded guilty in Christchurch District Court to charges that as the owner of the dog he failed to provide for its health and behavioural needs, and deserted the animal.
Judge Jocelyn Munro fined him $800 on the first charge and $3000 on the desertion charge.
"To have found the dog was in an emaciated state and close to death and then to have dumped it on the side of the road is truly shocking and appalling and there can be no excuse whatever for that," she told Burt.
"A dog is a defenceless animal that depends on its owner to be cared for."
The judge also ordered that all the fines be paid to the SPCA which has treated the dog, and nursed it back to health. It is now with another owner who loves it, the court was told.
Burt said he was deeply sorry for what he had done. He had left the dog with a relative and provided food but they "never fed the bloody dog".
The relative is also facing a charge, and that case has been adjourned.
Mr Raymond told the court that an SPCA inspector went to the property to inspect two dogs at the relative's house but it was dark and she said she would return to complete the inspection in a better light.
Burt told the SPCA he then received a text message and knew of the dog's poor condition. He was embarrassed about being found out and late that night he collected Sheba and left her on a quiet road in the country south of Christchurch. It was a snowy night in June.
The dog was found by a Selwyn District Council animal control officer and taken to the SPCA.
It weighed just 15.9kg which was at least 50 per cent below her optimum weight.
Three days after the initial visit, the SPCA inspector returned to the original address and found one dog was missing. Burt would not say where it had gone, but Mr Raymond said inquiries and information from the public led to him being interviewed.
He finally admitted dumping the dog.
After six weeks on a balanced and controlled diet, Sheba increased in body weight by 64.1 per cent to 26.1kg, which is still about 2kg less than ideal.
Burt has another dog, but Judge Munro today made an order that he is not allowed to own or exercise authority over any dog for three years.
- NZPA
