Woman admits setting puppies free

A Levin woman suffering from a case of puppy love pleaded guilty to burglary when she appeared in Levin District Court yesterday.

Prosecuting sergeant Murray Lyons said 37-year-old woman, who has name suppression, kicked open the front door of Levin Petworld on October 29 at 11.30pm.

Once inside she went to 15 caged fox terrier puppies and released them. She took a bag of dog food and dog toys and walked to the service station across the road taking five puppies with her.

She attempted to give the puppies away on the forecourt.

Later that night she called police and told them what she had done.

When police spoke to the woman the next day she said she released the dogs because she thought it was mean to keep them caged and a neighbour she knew was fed up with the fox terriers barking, Mr Lyons said.

Defence lawyer Yvonne Summers said the woman's offending was unusual because she rang the police after the incident.

"It's not your ordinary burglary."

Miss Summers said the woman was seeking counselling as it was clear there were issues she needed to address.

Judge Nevin Dawson remanded the woman for sentencing until February 9 and ordered her to attend counselling before then.

If she stayed out of trouble in the interim he would consider discharging her without conviction.