SPCA releases list of shame highlighting animal abuse in New Zealand

This puppy was euthanased after its owner caused more than 11 fractures. Photo/supplied

A puppy that suffered 11 fractures, endured massive swelling to its face and could
not open its jaw following a brutal beating is one of the cases included in this year's SPCA List of Shame.

The annual list highlights New Zealand's animal abuse track record and is being released ahead of the SPCA Annual Appeal, the organisation's biggest fundraising event.

The List of Shame highlights some of the worst animal abuse offences, but it's still only the tip of the iceberg, SPCA acting chief executive Andrea Midgen said.

"Our SPCA inspectors investigated a record 15,219 animal welfare complaints last
year. This List of Shame is the culmination of these - the very worst cases of horrible
animal abuse, neglect and cruelty," Midgen said.

This year's list includes a Horowhenua woman whose horse had collapsed and was so malnourished it had to be euthanised; a Hamilton woman who failed to seek vet treatment for a large, painful open wound on her cat's shoulder and an Auckland dog owner whose dog was discovered chained up, emaciated and suffering from mange, ringworm, chronic ear infections and anaemia.

A horse in Horowhenua collapsed due to malnutrition and had to be put down. Photo/supplied

The face of this year's Appeal is Selena the Samoyed, a 9-year-old dog who had never spent any time outdoors and weighed only eight kilos when she was discovered living in an Auckland garage.

When Selena was rescued by an SPCA inspector, she was half the weight she should have been.

It was a happy end to the story though - Selena has been nursed back to health and now spends her days playing at the beach and enjoying cuddles with her new family.

Another case in Hamilton involved two kittens having to be put down as they had only maggot-infested holes where their tails should have been.

Selena the Samoyed never spent time outdoors for nine years. Now, with her new family, she spends her time at the beach and enjoying cuddles. Photo/supplied

A Hamilton woman was convicted over the neglect of the kittens after she moved out of her property and left an adult cat and seven kittens behind.

SPCA inspectors found them almost a month later, and discovered all were suffering from significant flea burden, four kittens were underweight, and two kittens had eye infections. The two kittens that had to be put down were suffering from a congenital condition.

The woman was sentenced to 120 hours community work and made to pay $157.03 in reparation, $200 court costs, and was disqualified for owning animals for two years.

This dog was found chained up, emaciated, and suffering from a number of health problems. She has now made a full recovery. Photo/supplied

The dog is now leading a happy, healthy life with a new family. Photo/supplied

In another horror case, SPCA inspectors found two emaciated dogs eating the body of another dog that had recently died of starvation. The person responsible was never found.

The list this year is an improvement on last year's list - none of the animals on the previous list survived.

The SPCA Appeal held on November 7 to 13. Donations can be made online at www.spcaannualappeal.org.nz.

The 2016 List of Shame:

- A Christchurch man who injured his puppy over six weeks, causing more than 11 fractures including to her lower jaw and thigh bones. The puppy was also emaciated and had to be euthanised.

- A Te Kuiti man who was seen beating his dog. The dog was found in a state of mild shock, bleeding from both nostrils, with swollen eyes and ears, a puncture wound on her forehead, and bloody diarrhoea and urine. She has recovered and has a new home.

- A Horowhenua woman whose horse collapsed due to malnourishment. The horse was euthanised and found to be suffering from malnutrition, parasites, and gastric inflammation.

- A Shannon man who allowed his two bull calves to become emaciated with a severe internal parasite burden. One had already died when inspectors arrived.

- A stray puppy brought into the Rotorua SPCA. The puppy could not stand and was unresponsive, covered in severe mange, emaciated, and suffering from parvovirus. The puppy had to be euthanised. The person responsible was never found.

- An Auckland woman whose dog was found chained up, emaciated, suffering from demodectic mange, ringworm, bi-lateral chronic ear infections, and chronic anaemia. The dog has now made a full recovery.

- A Christchurch man who got drunk and hit his dog with a spade, breaking her leg. He did not take her to the vet as he feared repercussions. The dog's leg had to be amputated.

- A Waikanae man who deserted four young kittens on the side of the road, mid-winter. The kittens have now been given new homes.

- An Auckland woman whose two dogs were found living in a garage, thin, dehydrated, and with significant muscle atrophy. Her two cats were confined in a single crate in "filthy conditions" with no food or water. All four animals have new homes.

- A Hamilton woman who deserted an adult cat and seven kittens. Two kittens were euthanised

- An Ashhurst man who noticed fly eggs on his elderly working dog and used disinfectant to kill them, then didn't check to see if it worked. Two days later, inspectors found the dog unresponsive, suffering from a severe maggot infestation from the base of his tail to his shoulder blades, and the skin along his back oozing a bloody discharge. The dog had to be euthanised.

- A Hamilton woman who failed to provide veterinary treatment for a large open wound on her cat's shoulders, which required surgery and antibiotics. The cat has been rehomed.

- A case in Canterbury where two emaciated dogs were found eating the body of another dog that had recently died of starvation. Nobody responsible was ever found.

- An Opotiki man who failed to provide veterinary treatment for his dog's fractured leg. When the SPCA offered assistance and provided initial treatment, the man hid the dog until it was eventually found and taken into SPCA care. The dog was suffering degenerative joint disease, possible ligament rupture, chronic pain and disability. The dog had to be euthanised.

- A Palmerston North man who used a prohibited long spring leg hold trap on his property to capture roaming cats. He caught his neighbours cat, causing two fractures in its paw. The cat has made a full recovery.