Media Releases

This deep, infected wound around Frankie's neck was caused over a period of time by a wire cable being used to tie him up, instead of a proper collar.

Local woman sentenced for animal abuse

A Whangarei woman has been fined $3000 and banned from owning an animal for six months after pleading guilty to animal abuse.

Jodie Walker, a 32 year old from Otaika, was also sentenced to 80 hours community service when she appeared before Judge James Rota in the Whangarei District Court on April 21.

She was also ordered to forfeiture her dog, Frankie, who has been in foster care since April 2006 when he was found on Otaika Valley Road with a deep, infected neck wound caused by Ms Walker tying him up with a wire cable.

Veterinarian Dr David Haughs’ court report states Frankie’s neck wound was up to 1.5cm deep, cutting into the muscles around his neck, and was consistent with “the dog straining against neck tethering for a very long period”.

Ms Walker claimed she didn’t notice the massive injury, despite regularly feeding her dog.

However Whangarei SPCA manager Francine Shields says this claim is ridiculous.
“The dog was in pain, the wound was weeping – there is no way you couldn’t see that.”

Ms Shields says while the SPCA sees many cases of dogs and goats with neck wounds from improper tethering, this case was particularly sad as Frankie had been adopted from the SPCA when he was a puppy.

“This person made the decision to get a dog. She chose him, paid for him, and yet - for whatever reason - decided not to care for him,” she says.
“We do all we can to ensure our animal’s new homes will be suitable but unfortunately we can’t test people’s integrity. In saying that, in my 17 years with the SPCA I have never heard of an ex-SPCA animal being abused.”

Ms Shields says anyone who owns an animal – whether it be a dog, cat, horse, goat, cow or any other animal – must understand they have a legal obligation to care for that animal and provide for its’ wellbeing, and if they don't comply with these obligations they can be prosecuted.

Ms Walker’s fine will go to Whangarei SPCA to help cover the cost of caring for Frankie during the two years it took for legal proceedings to be completed.

Frankie has now been formally adopted by his foster parents, who couldn’t love him more.