A Northland farmer who taped her dogs' mouths shut and left them in appalling condition has been banned from owning any animals for two years.
Joanne Bailey received the ban after being convicted of failing to meet the basic needs of animals by the Whangarei District Court.
The conviction came two years after officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, animal welfare and SPCA investigators and a police officer searched her family property in Taipuha, 20km north-west of Maungaturoto.
Five dogs were seized from the property and taken to Whangarei for veterinary examination.
One dog had injuries to its nose which were found to be consistent with insulation tape being wrapped around its muzzle for a long period of periods of time.
Similar injuries were found on the lips of another of the dogs.
Of the five, two were put down.
The vet said the method of stopping the dogs from opening their jaws would have caused serious and prolonged pain and suffering to the animals.
The vet also noted, after further physical inspection of the dogs and information from Maf about the property, that there was inadequate water available to the animals, and food and water bowls were dirty and unhygienic.
As well, animal shelters on the farm were not regularly cleaned, nor were faeces and urine regularly removed, the court heard.
Overall, the environment the dogs were kept in was damp and unkempt, with poor ventilation and access to the outside world, which predisposed them to serious risk of respiratory and intestinal disease.
Maf compliance and enforcement director, Geoff Allen, said: "It is pretty simple really - feed, water and exercise your dogs, monitor their condition and seek veterinary treatment for their wellbeing if needed".
SPCA Whangarei manager Francine Shields said two of the dogs seized from the farm had been re-homed, two had to be euthanised and one was undergoing behaviour training due to ongoing psychological effects of Bailey's failures.
Northland farmer Joanne Bailey banned after taping dogs' mouths shut
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.