Woman who starved dog gets ownership ban

Napier District Court.
Napier District Court. Photo credit: RNZ.

A Hawke's Bay woman has been prevented from owning dogs for five years after one died of starvation in her care.

Kura Munro was sentenced at Napier District Court on Monday after she was charged with ill-treating a dog.

The SPCA said the brindle crossbreed, called Whero, was discovered dead and still chained to his wooden kennel in mid-2018.

It said he was essentially a prisoner on a chain - not able to move, or get free to eat food.

Whero was thin and his hips and ribs were clearly visible.

Munro was sentenced to nine months supervision, disqualified from owning dogs for five years, and ordered to pay $740 in reparations.

SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen said it was a horrific example of animal abuse.

"Why a person would treat their pet like this is beyond comprehension," she said.

RNZ