Dog abuse worst ever witnessed says SPCA
A New Plymouth dog owner who kept two malnourished dogs inside a fetid-smelling house without proper care for a year has been banned from owning dogs for five years.
Tansley Morere Ratapu, 47, appeared for sentencing in the New Plymouth District Court yesterday for failing to ensure an animal received treatment, and failing to ensure the physical health and welfare needs of two dogs were met, both charges under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
Ratapu had earlier pleaded guilty to the charges.
The dogs were discovered by an SPCA inspector in September 2016 after a call from the public alerted the organisation of three dogs living in house, the court was told.
The SPCA found one dog, a golden labrador, already dead lying on the side of the road near the house.
Two other dogs, Kasey and Keita, were seen living inside the house among rubbish, half eaten dog food, dog faeces, and little water to drink.
Keita was pregnant and underweight with rib and hip bones visible, while Kasey was in a reasonable condition, the court heard.
A week later a search warrant was granted for the SPCA to go inside the house.
A veterinarian found Keita’s health had worsened and the dog had bite marks around its head and ears, and hair loss.
The dog gave birth to two pups five days later.
Kasey had a bad ear infection, scabs and hair loss.
In sentencing, Judge Kevin Glubb said Ratapu had accepted responsibility for the dogs’ care.
Ratapu had previously told the SPCA the dogs had been living in the damp, badly aerated house for a year and he would attend to them twice a week.
But in the six weeks before the SPCA visited the house, he had been going to the house only once a week.
It was clear from the condition of the dogs that the lack of care had been going on for some time, Judge Glubb said.
There had been a breach of trust by Ratapu as the animals were reliant on him as their owner, he said.
There was also an element of vulnerability as one of the dogs was pregnant and needed greater care.
Ratapu was sentenced to 120 hours’ community work and ordered to pay $3183.80 reparation to the SPCA, at a rate of $30 a week.
He was also banned from owning any dogs for the next five years.
Both dogs were forfeited to the care of the SPCA.
SPCA North Taranaki spokeswoman Jackie Poles Smith said the sentence sent a clear signal to the public that animal neglect was not acceptable.
‘‘It is important that he was held accountable because animal cruelty and neglect is not tolerated in our society,’’ she said.
‘‘We are extremely happy the ownership of the dogs has been forfeited to the SPCA.
‘‘It is very important he is not allowed to own dogs for another five years because it is proven he is not capable of owning a dog.’’ ies so far but his stepdad Greg Houkamau, who will run the race with him, injured his foot after a misplaced step in the dark.
However, the pair had a training run on Thursday night and had no problems, she said.
As part of his training, LovettHurst and his stepdad completed seven laps on the roads around Queens Park, totalling a distance of 30.9km.
‘‘It was pretty tough. At times I wanted to give up but I knew I couldn’t,’’ Lovett-Hurst said.
Tomorrow, Lovett-Hurst will take part in the half-marathon event at the Southland Festival of Running, which involves running from the Waianiwa Centennial Hall to the SIT Zero Fees Velodrome.
The pair hadn’t planned to run in the event but the Southland Harriers had offered Lovett-Hurst free entry since he was training for the marathon in New York.
Lovett-Hurst said he would not be going to New York if it was not for the people who had been supporting him financially with donations.
Southlanders who have run the marathon before have offered Lovett-Hurst tips and advice about what he can expect, Debbie said.
They leave for the United States on October 28, spending a few days in San Francisco before flying to New York.
Once there they would take a bus tour of the marathon course.
Debbie said they were hoping to live stream the run for those back in Southland to watch.
After the race, they will spend time in Las Vegas and Los Angeles before flying home.