A Waikato man who told his partner he “nearly half killed” his puppy has been sentenced to home detention and banned from owning animals for five years.
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The man was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court yesterday over his abuse of Milo – who has since made a full recovery and is with a loving new owner.
The SPCA said Milo was attacked “multiple times” between January 1 and February 7 2023.
The abuse saw the man kick, hit, and throw Milo into a heavy timber frame.
In a text message to his partner on February 7, the man wrote: “Cum get dis dog I’ve nearly half killed him.”
Police visited the offender’s home on the same day, investigating an unrelated matter.
When they arrived, officers found Milo in a makeshift wooden kennel at the back of the property.
He was shaking with his tail tucked. He struggled to stand and put weight on his hind legs. Officers also found blood on the wood where he was lying. SPCA inspectors removed Milo from the property.
A vet found Milo was suffering from multiple injuries caused by “external force trauma”.
The puppy was missing a piece of ear lobe skin, had rib fractures, damage to his eyes and teeth, and there was evidence of a compressed spine – which made moving “difficult” and “painful”.
“His face was swollen, and he showed symptoms of considerable pain, fear, and suffering,” the SPCA said.
It’s believed some of the injuries were caused less than a week prior, while others had occurred around two weeks prior.
“Expert opinion concluded Milo’s welfare had been severely compromised.”
On top of the abuse, the owner also failed to provide any vet treatment for Milo’s injuries, “which would have caused severe pain.”
The man admitted to SPCA inspectors that he was responsible for abusing the dog. He said it would be okay if he were banned from owning animals “because he did not think he should have one now”.
The man pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless ill-treatment of an animal, causing it to suffer injury or impairment, and a charge of failing to ensure the animal received treatment to alleviate pain or distress.
As a result, he was sentenced to five months of home detention, followed by six months of intensive supervision.
He was also ordered to pay reparations of $682.63 and was disqualified from owning animals for five years.
Since being removed, Milo has fully recovered and been adopted by a new owner.
SPCA chief executive Todd Westwood said Milo was “loving life in his new home with someone who loves him”.
“Which is what he deserved all along.
“Animals deserve respect and care, the opposite of what poor Milo was shown in the early months of his life,” Westwood said.
