MANUREWA WOMAN GUILTY OF CRUELTY

20th May 2008

Diana MATAPUKA of 31 Arbor Close, Manurewa pleaded guilty at Manukau District Court today to 3 charges of cruelty under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 being:

• Failing to provide that animal with proper and sufficient food and water.
• Failing to provide that animal with proper and sufficient shelter.
• Failing to ensure the animal received treatment to alleviate any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.

On Thursday 28th June 2007 at approximately 4.35pm an SPCA Inspector, acting upon information received, visited the address.

A Police Constable took the Inspector to the rear of the property where there was a Pitbull terrier type dog, adult, entire male, tan in colour in emaciated condition with fly bitten ears and flaky skin. The dog was tethered to the fence with a heavy chain which was directly connected to the neck of the dog tightly.

There were two sheets of corrugated iron leaning up against the fence, supposedly for shelter. The ground was extremely worn, indicating that the dog had been there for some time. There was no food or water available to the dog.

Matapuka was sentenced to:

100 hours Community Service

Reparations of $4386.90

Disqualified for 5 years from owning any animal

In sentencing the Judge said,” This is serious offending, you have to treat an animal pretty badly for it to look like this, animals depend on us”

For further information please contact:

David Lloyd-Barker
Auckland SPCA General Manager
Tel: (09) 256 7311
Mob: 027 278 0904
Email: david.lloyd-barker@spca.org.nz

Vicki Border – Inspector 027 2780 911

This media release is issued with approval of the Chief Executive of the Auckland SPCA. For further information regarding this or any other policy matters please contact:

Bob Kerridge, Chief Executive
Auckland SPCA
DDI: (09) 256 7306
Mob: 0274 959 449
A/Hr: (09) 528 9940
Email: bob.kerridge@spca.org.nz