Nuggi died of a liver hemorrhage.
A New Zealand woman was sentenced to two months in prison after her dog, which weighed 53 kg (118 pounds) and was severely obese, died, according to a report in News week. According to a statement from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), the dog, named Nuggi, was found by police in 2021 weighing around 54 kilograms (120 pounds) and almost immobile.
Nuggi was taken from his owner’s Auckland home, where police discovered “several” dogs, and handed over to the SPCA.
Nuggi died of a liver hemorrhage, although he lost 8.8 kg (19.6 pounds), or about 16.5 percent of his body weight, in two months while in SPCA care. The organization says an autopsy revealed additional health problems, including Cushing’s disease and liver problems.
According to the release, the owner pleaded guilty to failing to meet the dog’s medical, behavioral and physical needs. As a result, the Manukau District Court in Auckland sentenced the owner to two months in prison and a fine of 1,222 NZD ($720). She was also told that she will not be able to have dogs for a year.
Veterinarians using a stethoscope were unable to detect Nuggi’s heartbeat due to his extreme weight, according to the SPCA statement. The dog also had many growths on its skin, especially in contact areas such as elbows and belly, and its claws were enlarged. Furthermore, Nuggi also had conjunctivitis.
Todd Westwood, head of the SPCA, said the dog was “drastically overfed” and “clearly” did not receive adequate care. “Nuggi was one of the most obese animals we have ever encountered,” Westwood said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, we see underweight, starving or malnourished animals every day, but it is equally heartbreaking to see a defenseless animal that has been severely overfed,” he continued.
The SPCA added that the pet dog was fed around 10 pieces of chicken every day along with dry food. Nuggi reportedly had difficulty walking about 10 meters to the car when vets took him away from his owner, stopping three times to catch his breath. The SPCA said: “His legs could not support his huge body.”
“Part of being a responsible dog owner is providing your pet with a proper diet and daily exercise, which was clearly not the case here. Nuggi was being drastically overfed and instead of seeking help or changing his behavior, his owner continued to overfeed him. until he could barely walk. This is unacceptable,” Westwood added.
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
