Dog owner banned for cruelty

A former Hope man is banned from having a dog for three months after the Nelson SPCA prosecuted him for ill-treating a puppy by slamming it into a car, and taping another dog's muzzle closed.

In the Nelson District Court this week Judge Tony Zohrab found Michael William Roden guilty of charges of ill-treating a blue heeler puppy named Holly, and failing to look after a blue heeler called Zac properly. (..)

Judge Zohrab ordered Roden pay $500 to the SPCA, do 100 hours community work, not have a dog for three months and pay $75 witness expenses.

Nelson SPCA's case was that in January last year a man saw Roden ill-treating the puppy close to a swimming hole at the Wairoa River. It was alleged he saw Roden grab the dog by its lead before swinging it around to slam it against the side of a stationwagon, and then on to the top of the vehicle. MORE>>

It says that the guy still has the dog... so one wonders ...