A 33-year-old man has been sentenced at the Hamilton District Court for performing a botched home castration on a dog.
The man who was not a qualified veterinarian was sentenced to 150 hours community work, and will also have to pay $1292 to cover legal costs and reparations.
SPCA chief executive Ric Odom says even though the dog has fully recovered, castration is something that should only be left for professionals.
"Pet owners attempting to do the procedure themselves can lead to very serious health consequences for the animal involved. In other words: please don't do this at home."
According to the SPCA, the case began in August last year when the defendant took his dog into a Hamilton vet with scrotal wounds. At the time, the man claimed the dog had sustained the wounds by jumping over a low-lying fence.
Two vets then examined the dog and immediately suspected it was a home castration and contacted the SPCA.
When interviewed, the defendant admitted to the allegations and said he had tied the dogs legs together and sealed its mouth with cloth before the operation.
He also confessed he wasn't qualified, nor did he seek any advice.
Newshub.
