Dog abusers banned from owning animals

A man has been banned from owning an animal for 10 years for keeping an elderly dog in such poor condition it died within minutes of SPCA intervention.

It is one of two cases of Aucklanders being brought to justice for abusing pets this week.

Harley Love appeared in the Waitakere District Court yesterday charged with keeping an "animal alive when it is in such a condition that it is suffering unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress".

The 21-year-old was charged after an SPCA Auckland inspector was called to his Glen Eden home in January and found a 17-year-old German shepherd-type dog collapsed on the back deck.

The SPCA said the dog, named "Troy", was very thin, covered in patches of live fleas and maggots and was lying in its own excrement.  MORE>>