Prosecution after dog suffered 'pain and distress' for 10 weeks

Wellington SPCA said it learned in May about a 9-year-old collie-cross in Johnsonville suffering from what appeared to be a severe skin condition. Photo / Supplied

A woman has been prosecuted after a dog she was supposed to look after suffered "pain and distress" for 10 weeks, the SPCA said today.

Wellington SPCA said it learned in May about a 9-year-old collie-cross in Johnsonville suffering from what appeared to be a severe skin condition.

A woman was entrusted to look after the dog while the animal's owner was in hospital.

The SPCA said an investigator found the dog in a terrible state.

"He was persistently scratching, significant areas on the dog were bald and the skin crusty, and there were itchy raw patches around his eyes, neck and chest."

The SPCA said the woman told the inspector she fed, walked, bathed and brushed the dog but could not afford a trip to the vet.

"She said she had previously mentioned to the owner that the dog needed to see a vet but nothing had happened."

The SPCA inspector removed the dog from the property and took it to the Wellington SPCA veterinary centre.

"After only 48 hours the dog's condition had improved and the scratching had ceased. Within four weeks its skin showed great improvement with the hair re-growing and only a few small areas of inflammation present."

The SPCA said it charged Deborah Hohua under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 for ill-treating the animal.

The animal welfare society said the woman was found guilty at a hearing in Wellington held on Tuesday.

"She was subsequently ordered to pay $500 reparation to the SPCA and $100 towards legal costs," the SPCA said.

"This case is a reminder that people who take on the care of others' animals also have a legal responsibility not to allow an animal to suffer any unnecessary or unreasonable pain or distress," Wellington SPCA chief executive Steve Glassey said.

"In this particular case, nothing was done to alleviate the pain and distress being suffered by the dog for ten weeks," Mr Glassey said.

"If the defendant had sought veterinary attention for the dog or contacted the SPCA straight away, the result would have been significantly different."

The SPCA said Wellington criminal barrister lawyer Elizabeth Hall donated her time to support the SPCA's inspectorate, and led the prosecution.