A woman in Auckland, New Zealand, has been sentenced to two months in jail for overfeeding her dog to death. The Manukau District Court also ordered her to pay 1,222 New Zealand dollars (approximately Php 42,000) in reparations and banned her from owning dogs for one year due to animal neglect.
The dog, named Nuggi, weighed 53 kilograms (118 pounds) and was severely obese. The woman had been feeding Nuggi up to 10 pieces of chicken daily, in addition to his regular dog biscuits.
According to a statement from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Nuggi was found by police in 2021 weighing about 54 kilograms (120 pounds), almost unable to move.
When Nuggi was rescued, he weighed 53.7 kilograms, and due to the fat layers on his body, the vet struggled to detect his heartbeat with a stethoscope.
Nuggi also had numerous skin growths, particularly on his stomach and elbows, as well as overgrown claws and conjunctivitis.
Animal control officers noted that Nuggi’s legs appeared to be collapsing under his weight, and he struggled to walk short distances, frequently needing to stop to catch his breath.
Despite losing 19.6 pounds in two months under SPCA care, Nuggi passed away due to an acute hemorrhage from a ruptured liver mass. A necropsy also revealed additional health complications, including liver disease and Cushing’s disease.
SPCA Chief Executive Todd Westwood stated that Nuggi was one of the most obese animals they had encountered, “Sadly, we see animals daily that are underweight, starved, or malnourished, but it is equally heartbreaking to see a helpless animal that has been severely overfed,” Westwood said.
Westwood added that Nuggi’s case resulted from gross neglect by the owner, who failed in her responsibilities and did not seek help for her feeding practices. “Part of being a responsible dog owner is providing your pet with an appropriate diet and daily exercise.”
“This was clearly not the case here. Nuggi was drastically overfed, and instead of seeking help or correcting her behavior, the owner continued to overfeed him until he could barely walk. This is unacceptable.” he added.
The case of Nuggi is just one example among many instances of neglect affecting animals. This case serves as a stark reminder that owning pets is a serious responsibility, not just a means to gain social media clout or to flaunt on social platforms. Responsible pet ownership is crucial to ensuring the well-being of animals.
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