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A woman accused of starving her puppy for a month has finally appeared in court over what the SPCA has described as one of New Zealand's worst cases of animal neglect.
Paulette Taki, 30, avoided police and SPCA inspectors for nearly six months, but was last week arrested and appeared in Auckland District Court. She pleaded not guilty to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act for starving her 11-month old Staffordshire-ridgeback-cross puppy - renamed Eve because SPCA staff rescued her on Christmas Eve.
The SPCA alleges Taki left Eve without food and water for four weeks, the puppy surviving only by eating flies and her own faeces. She weighed only 10kg and could barely stand when found.
Taki left the dog in the care of a relative while she went on holiday, her lawyer Mary Kennedy told the court. "She's terribly sorry about the dog and feels the shame of it," Kennedy said. "She is terrified of these charges."
Taki was summonsed to appear in court in February but an arrest warrant was issued when she failed to appear. She was further charged last week with two breaches of failing to complete 200 hours of community service.
Barrister Jo Wickliffe, on behalf of the SPCA, and the Probation Service opposed bail.
Taki has been placed under house arrest until a second bail hearing at the Auckland District Court next Friday. Judge Geoff Rea said Taki was "unhelpful, unlikely to appear and avoiding her obligations".
Judge Rea ordered another bail hearing on Friday to see if an earlier court date could be found before Taki's next court appearance in August and placed her on 24-hour curfew.
If Taki was not home, or failed to appear next week, Rea warned she would go to jail.
"I will Your Honour, I will be there," Taki said tearfully.
Auckland SPCA general manager David Lloyd-Barker said Eve was recovering well.
If found guilty, Taki faces a maximum penalty of a $25,000 fine or six months in jail.
