A woman in New Zealand has been sentenced to two months in jail for overfeeding her dog to death.
In Manukau District Court, the woman was sentenced to two months in jail, ordered to pay reparations of $1,222.15, and disqualified from owning dogs for one year.
In October 2021, the SPCA seized Nuggi and other dogs from the woman’s Auckland home following a police search.Nuggi was so overweight that he struggled to walk even short distances, needing to stop frequently to catch his breath. Animal control officers noted that his legs seemed to collapse under his excessive weight, reported New Zealand Herald.
The woman had been feeding Nuggi up to 10 pieces of chicken daily, in addition to regular dog biscuits. Upon rescue, Nuggi was taken to the SPCA’s Māngere Centre for a veterinary assessment. The dog weighed 53.7kg, and his obesity was so severe that the vet could not detect his heartbeat with a stethoscope due to the thick layer of fat.
The SPCA reported that Nuggi had overgrown nails, numerous skin tags, and conjunctivitis. He also faced difficulty moving, breathing, and coping with warm weather. The vet concluded that Nuggi would have endured significant long-term discomfort and distress due to his excessive weight.
Nuggi spent two months under the care of the SPCA, during which he lost 8.9kg—about 16% of his body weight. However, he passed away due to an acute hemorrhage from a ruptured liver mass. A necropsy revealed additional health issues, including liver disease and Cushing’s disease.
“She [the vet] concluded that due to the extra weight Nuggi was carrying, he would have suffered severe long-term discomfort and distress,” the SPCA said.
SPCA Chief Executive Todd Westwood described Nuggi as “one of the most obese animals we’ve ever encountered” and expressed the heartache of seeing animals suffering from severe overfeeding. He emphasized that Nuggi’s condition was a result of gross neglect, as the owner failed to correct her feeding practices or seek help.
Westwood said: “He was so enormous that he could hardly walk and he was clearly suffering as a result of the significant amount of weight he was carrying.
“Sadly, we see animals on a daily basis that are underweight, starved or malnourished, but it’s equally heartbreaking to see a helpless animal that’s been severely overfed.”
Westwood said Nuggi was “clearly” not given an appropriate diet and daily exercise.
“Nuggi was being drastically overfed, and instead of seeking help or amending the behaviour, his owner continued to overfeed him until he could barely walk. This is unacceptable,” he said.
In Manukau District Court, the woman was sentenced to two months in jail, ordered to pay reparations of $1,222.15, and disqualified from owning dogs for one year.
In October 2021, the SPCA seized Nuggi and other dogs from the woman’s Auckland home following a police search.Nuggi was so overweight that he struggled to walk even short distances, needing to stop frequently to catch his breath. Animal control officers noted that his legs seemed to collapse under his excessive weight, reported New Zealand Herald.
The woman had been feeding Nuggi up to 10 pieces of chicken daily, in addition to regular dog biscuits. Upon rescue, Nuggi was taken to the SPCA’s Māngere Centre for a veterinary assessment. The dog weighed 53.7kg, and his obesity was so severe that the vet could not detect his heartbeat with a stethoscope due to the thick layer of fat.
The SPCA reported that Nuggi had overgrown nails, numerous skin tags, and conjunctivitis. He also faced difficulty moving, breathing, and coping with warm weather. The vet concluded that Nuggi would have endured significant long-term discomfort and distress due to his excessive weight.
Nuggi spent two months under the care of the SPCA, during which he lost 8.9kg—about 16% of his body weight. However, he passed away due to an acute hemorrhage from a ruptured liver mass. A necropsy revealed additional health issues, including liver disease and Cushing’s disease.
“She [the vet] concluded that due to the extra weight Nuggi was carrying, he would have suffered severe long-term discomfort and distress,” the SPCA said.
SPCA Chief Executive Todd Westwood described Nuggi as “one of the most obese animals we’ve ever encountered” and expressed the heartache of seeing animals suffering from severe overfeeding. He emphasized that Nuggi’s condition was a result of gross neglect, as the owner failed to correct her feeding practices or seek help.
Westwood said: “He was so enormous that he could hardly walk and he was clearly suffering as a result of the significant amount of weight he was carrying.
“Sadly, we see animals on a daily basis that are underweight, starved or malnourished, but it’s equally heartbreaking to see a helpless animal that’s been severely overfed.”
Westwood said Nuggi was “clearly” not given an appropriate diet and daily exercise.
“Nuggi was being drastically overfed, and instead of seeking help or amending the behaviour, his owner continued to overfeed him until he could barely walk. This is unacceptable,” he said.
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