Animal cruelty major issue in Bay, says SPCA

Skip was abandoned in a clothing bin in Tauranga earlier this year and was lucky to survive, he was adopted out by the Tauranga SPCA. Photo/Supplied

Animal cruelty is a ''serious issue'' in Tauranga the SPCA says - with one vet saying they have had to put down hedgehogs and birds that had been attacked by children.

Latest data from the Tauranga SPCA, which includes Waihi, shows the number of animal welfare complaints has jumped. In 2015, it investigated 395 complaints compared to 431 in 2016. More than half the complaints were about dogs and since 2010 it had successfully prosecuted 14 cases through the courts.

ARRC Wildlife Trust director Liza Schneider said animal cruelty was a problem in Tauranga.

The vet at Holistic Vets said it had seen cases ''where birds or hedgehogs have been kicked, hit or had objects thrown at them by children''.

''Some of these animals have been so severely injured that we have had to humanely euthanise them where others have been nursed back to health.''

ARRC had highlighted the issue in one of its Kids Adventure series of books called Tilly's Tumble Tilly about a tui being found by some children and being treated roughly before another comes to its rescue.

She said there was a proven link between domestic abuse and animal violence and it was important to educate people about responsible pet ownership and treating animals well.

Some animal abuse was due to ignorance or the fact some people simply don't have the money to take their pet to the vet. Others were acts of anger.

''I believe that it is the animal that is helpless and is an easy victim for people to vent their frustrations and anger.''

Tauranga SPCA operations manager Margaret Rawiri said other than the prosecutions the most shocking cases of abuse involved animals being abandoned by their owners.

''Earlier this year there was a 6-week-old puppy called Skip who was dumped in a clothing bin by his owners.''

He was found buried among the towels at the sorting centre severely underweight, dehydrated and suffering from a skin condition.

The puppy survived and was adopted but inspectors never found the person responsible, she said.

Paw Justice advocate Tiki Taane said the rise in dog abuse was ''heartbreaking''.

''Owning a dog is a huge responsibility with things like registration, micro-chipping and regular shots but most of all showing your pet love and giving them a healthy and happy home is a commitment that is for life.'

''We own a red nose pitbull called Theia and she is like our third child.''

Mr Tanne said they would never think of hurting or neglecting her ''even when she digs holes and chews things that she is not supposed to''.

''So to learn that dog abuse is getting worse is truly heartbreaking. Those that are committing the abuse need to stop and take a good look at themselves and the reasons why they are doing it.

''Especially if there are children present because that is teaching them that it is okay to hurt and abuse others.''

Dog trainer Chelles McIntosh was calling for tougher laws on animal abuse but said the authorities' hands were tied.

''It's absolutely disgusting the laws here need to be harder...every animal loves and feels and has emotions.''

In last month, she had also been asked to rehome eight dogs, she said.

What happens?
* There can be many outcomes for an animal welfare investigation.
* One action is to educate the animal's owner about their responsibilities and about caring for their pet.
* SPCA Inspectors will also give written or formal warnings where appropriate.
* Prosecutions can take years to go through the courts and involve a considerable amount of resource from the SPCA.
* Although an animal can be taken into possession or seized, permanent custody can only be obtained by the owner subsequently surrendering the animal or by forfeiture being ordered by a judge following conviction of an animal welfare offence.

- source Tauranga SPCA