A New Zealand dog owner has been sentenced to two months in prison for overfeeding his dog, resulting in its death.
Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reveal The woman pleaded guilty to causing the dog’s death by failing to meet its demands.
In addition to her two-month prison sentence, she was ordered to pay compensation of NZ$1,222.15 (US$718) and was banned from owning a dog for a year.
The dog, named Nuggie, weighed 53.7 kilograms (118 pounds) when he was rescued by the SPCA in October 2021.
Noogie’s former owners told the SPCA that they fed him eight to 10 pieces of chicken every day, in addition to dog treats, and that they also exercised him by taking him for walks and spending time outdoors in the grounds.
SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Nuggi’s plight was “unacceptable”.
“Part of being a responsible dog owner is giving your pet a proper diet and daily exercise, and that clearly wasn’t the case here.” Westwood explained. “Nuggie was severely overfed, but instead of seeking help or changing his behavior, his owners continued to feed him until he could barely walk.”
According to the SPCA, when Nuggi was removed from the home, animal control officers “Mr Nudge had to stop three times to catch his breath while walking 10 metres from the property to his car.”
Doctors also said they were unable to hear Nuggi’s heartbeat with a stethoscope because he was obese, as sound could not penetrate fat throughout his body.
In addition to being obese, Nuggie also suffered from other health problems: his weight had caused visibly weak legs, overgrown nails, numerous skin tags and conjunctivitis.
SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said of Nuggi: “It’s certainly one of the most obese animals we’ve ever come across.”.
He said SPCA inspectors and staff, who are used to dealing with overweight and obese animals, were shocked to see Nuggie’s condition.
“Sadly, we see animals that are thin, hungry and malnourished every day, but it is just as heartbreaking to see animals that are severely overfed and helpless.” Westwood says.
According to the SPCA, Nuggie was in their care for a total of two months, losing a total of 8.9 kg (19 lbs) before suddenly dying from acute bleeding due to a ruptured tumor in his liver.
“An autopsy revealed further health complications, including liver disease and Cushing’s disease.” The SPCA revealed this.
