Woman banned from owning dogs
Disqualification and work order for woman who left pet with no water
AWhangarei woman has been sentenced to community work and banned from owning dogs after her dog was found emaciated with protruding ribs, vertebrae, pelvis bones and a loss of muscle mass.
Iris Riki, 55, was found guilty in the Whangarei District Court of failing to ensure the physical health and behavioural needs of an animal were being met.
Riki was sentenced to 150 hours’ community work and ordered to pay $782.70 reparations and $300 court costs. She was also disqualified from owning dogs for three years.
The case began when SPCA Inspectors visited the defendant’s property and found her Neapolitan mastiff cross Goliath chained to a running wire. The yard was very overgrown and Goliath had a picnic table tilted on its side for shelter. He had no access to water.
He was thin with hair loss over all four legs and fly bitten ears. SPCA Inspectors advised the defendant that Goliath had lost too much weight and to provide him with adequate shelter and treatment for his skin.
SPCA Inspectors followed up with the defendant twice and on the second visit found the dog tangled around his running wire, unable to reach his shelter. He had lost a significant amount of weight and an eye appeared to be infected.
SPCA Inspectors seized Goliath and took him for veterinary care. This examination revealed that he was emaciated, had hair loss consistent with sarcoptic mange, conjunctivitis in both eyes and pressure sores on his elbows, hocks and pin bones.
The veterinarian concluded Goliath was in pain and discomfort due to malnutrition, and it was likely he had been suffering for several weeks.
In SPCA’s care Goliath was fed four meals a day and in five weeks had reached his ideal body weight. At the SPCA centre he was a “staff favourite” and received extra attention and treats.
Unfortunately, after a year in SPCA’s care Goliath developed several malignant tumours. On a veterinarian’s recommendation, Goliath was euthanised.
“SPCA believes that no dog should spend their life on a chain. We take some comfort in the fact in in Goliath’s last year of life he was given the very best care and unconditional love from the SPCA team,” SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen said.