Woman in court over dog cruelty

The woman found guilty of locking her ridge-back cross under her home to starve for five weeks will be sentenced in November.

Paulette Taki made a voluntary appearance today in the Auckland District Court after being almost a year on the run.

Her lawyer, Sarah Kennedy asked for a fresh sentencing report today.

Taki was remanded on bail.

She was due to be sentenced last September but failed to show up and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Taki admitted to failing to provide her ridgeback-cross dog with adequate food and water and failing to protect it from disease in July last year.

SPCA inspectors found the 11-month-old dog on Christmas Eve, 2007, locked under Taki's house for at least five weeks without food or water.

The inspectors named her Eve and she now has a new home.

SPCA inspector manager Sue Baudet was in court today. Outside she told nzherald.co.nz that Eve was "doing great".

She said she did not want to comment on what sentence the SPCA would be seeking because Taki had failed to show up to court on four previous occasions.

SPCA CEO Bob Kerridge has previously said that the society will be seeking costs from Taki which, given vet bills and the dog's stay in SPCA facilities, will likely run over $1000.

Mr Kerridge said the society will also be seeking a court order which stops Ms Taki from owning pets for three years.