Police hunting puppy abuser

Police are looking for a woman who starved her puppy for a month in what the SPCA has described as one of New Zealand's worst cases of animal neglect.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Paulette Taki, who failed to appear in the Auckland District Court yesterday to be sentenced on charges of animal neglect - the fifth court appearance she has failed to turn up to.

Taki faces a maximum penalty of a $25,000 fine or six months in jail. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can call Auckland police on 09) 302 6400 or the Auckland SPCA on 09) 256 7300