SPCA comment on Ezekiel James Charles Wilson who was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court today on two charges of ill-treating an animal and failure to provide medical treatment.
Three people who intervened to save the life of a mistreated puppy are being commended for their actions.
The SPCA has publicly acknowledged the bravery and thanked the members of the public who they say saved the puppy from a miserable life.
It comes after Hamilton man Ezekiel Wilson wasconvicted in the Hamilton District Court yesterday of two charges of ill-treating an animal and one of failing to provide treatment for an injured animal.
The court heard the 4-month-old bulldog-cross puppy was being choked, shaken, thrown against a car and punched so hard three of its ribs broke in the back of the Subaru Impreza station wagon at Chartwell Mall in Hamilton last year.
Two passers-by stopped when they saw the ill-treatment in the car park at 9am on June 16.
One confronted Wilson, then a methamphetamine addict who appeared high, while the other phoned police.
Wilson complained the puppy, Floyd, had defecated in his car. Wilson drove off before police arrived.
At 1pm on the same day, police received a call from another member of the public reporting ill-treatment of a puppy - the same dog - at a house in Hamilton East.
The witness said Wilson had held Floyd in the air by his hind leg before dragging the puppy by the leg into the house.
Wilson, 29 and a father-of-two, was yelling and swearing at Floyd, as the puppy yelped and cried.
When police arrived they found Floyd in the footwell of a car, cowering and shivering, with a fearful demeanour.
Wilson was asked to get Floyd out but the dog had trouble standing on his rear legs and looked weak and distressed. His head hung low.
The explanation from Wilson was that Floyd had either stood on something or someone had accidentally stood on him.
The police took Floyd to SPCA Waikato, which took him to a vet.
Floyd the puppy is examined by an SPCA animal welfare inspector after he was saved from his owner Ezekiel Wilson. Photo / SPCA.
X-rays revealed a fracture to Floyd's left hind leg that appeared to have happened at least three weeks earlier. HIs knee joint was swollen and the dog also had three broken ribs.
The vet concluded the fractured leg was caused by a trauma of considerable force, and that the leg would have been significantly more swollen at the time of injury. The leg eventually had to be amputated.
Along with the lameness this should have been apparent to the owner, and veterinary treatment should have been sought immediately to alleviate considerable pain.
The fractured ribs were consistent with considerable blunt trauma to the thorax, and would have caused a significant degree of pain and distress.
Wilson admitted he was aware of Floyd's injured leg but didn't have enough money to take him to the vet.
He downplayed the beating in the car park as merely giving the puppy "a bit of a slap".
But Judge Kim Saunders yesterday called Wilson's conduct callous, cruel and repetitive.
She said his meth addiction was no excuse for the behaviour and noted Wilson had previous convictions for violence on people.
She banned him from owning an animal for four years and sentenced him to four months' community detention, 200 hours' community work and ordered him to pay $566 reparation in vet fees and $600 in legal costs.
SPCA animal welfare inspector Jason Blair after the sentencing of Ezekiel Wilson for the brutal beating of a puppy. Photo / Natalie Akoorie.
SPCA New Zealand acting chief executive Andrea Midgen called it a "horrifying case of unrestrained violence being inflicted by a grown man on a defenceless, innocent puppy".
"The one bright point in this awful story is the willingness of members of the public to front up to the offender and call the police," Midgen said.
"They saw something wrong and by their brave actions saved an innocent puppy from a miserable life of cruelty and abuse. The SPCA would like to thank them all hugely."
Midgen called on New Zealanders to act in situations where they think an animal is being abused.
"Our inspectors are on call and on the road every day of the year but we can't be everywhere and see everything. So we urge Kiwis to keep their eyes peeled for instances of animal abuse and neglect.
"If you see anyone abusing or neglecting animals, or suspect animal abuse is taking place, please call your local SPCA or the NZ Police for help."
Floyd, now re-named Flynn, has since recovered well and has been adopted by a loving family.
