Media Releases

BACK TO HEALTH: SPCA volunteer Leah Miller with Zeke, left, one of two neapolitian mastiffs found starving at a home in Dargaville.

Successful end for starved dogs

Reprinted with permission from Northern Adovcate.
Published 12/12/08
By Imran Ali

Beneficiary Rebecca Walters took ownership of neapolitan mastiff dogs Zeke and Chronic when her partner went to jail. But she left them under someone else's care and the starving and emaciated 2 1/2 year old dogs had to be rescued by Whangarei SPCA.

Walters, 23, of Dargaville, has been sentenced to 150 hours community service and ordered to pay reparation of $3019.53 to the SPCA by Judge John McDonald.
She pleaded guilty to three charges of failure to ensure the animals' health and wellbeing, failing to provide adequate nutrition and failing to treat Chronic's swollen and wounded legs.

SPCA and police officers executed a search warrent at Walter's Dargaville home in February and noticed Zeke in an emaciated state.
When offered water his thirst was "insatiable" and when fed he ate "ravenously" the court heard.

The ground within his chain arc was completely dry and dusty without any grass or weed growth.
The chains of two other dogs, including Chronic, were tangled in a manner so neither could move more than half a metre.

Chronic weighed 28.9kg when his weight should have been between 38kg to 50kg. Zeke weighed 24.9kg instead of between 35kg and 45kg.

Whangarei SPCA manager Francine Shields was happy with the courts decision.
"If people are going to take responsibilty for animals they must look after them."

Zeke and Chronic are back to full health and being looked after by SPCA staff.