Woman Jailed for Overfeeding Her Dog to Death in New Zealand

In a landmark case highlighting animal neglect, a woman in New Zealand has been sentenced to two months in jail for overfeeding her dog, leading to its death. The Manukau District Court also ordered her to pay reparations of Rs 60,000 and disqualified her from owning dogs for one year.

The distressing incident dates back to October 2021 when the SPCA seized Nuggi and other dogs from the woman's Auckland home following a police search. Nuggi, a severely overweight dog, struggled to walk short distances and had to stop frequently to catch his breath. Animal control officers observed that his legs seemed to collapse under his excessive weight, according to a media report.

The woman had been feeding Nuggi up to 10 pieces of chicken daily, in addition to regular dog biscuits. When rescued, Nuggi was taken to the SPCA’s Māngere Centre for a veterinary assessment. Weighing 53.7kg, Nuggi's 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.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of neglecting proper animal care and the importance of responsible pet ownership.