A Northland couple have been fined more than $20,000 and forbidden from owning a dog for at least 10 years after being convicted for an "unbelievable" case of animal ill treatment.
Job and Valmai Bailey pleaded guilty to four charges of the ill treatment of eight dogs and the failure to provide for the dogs' needs at the Whangarei District Court on Tuesday.
The convictions follow a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) search at the couple's home in June 2006.
During the search, investigators found eight dogs housed in filthy conditions without food or water, some whose coats were matted with faeces, living on urine soaked floor areas covered with excrement, MAF investigations manager Greg Reid said.
Mr Reid said the case was "unbelievable" and made even more alarming by the fact that the eight dogs were confined in the house the defendants were living in.
"They were effectively surrounded by these dogs in an absolutely disgusting state, its not like they were unaware of what was going on," he said.
A veterinarian noted the dogs had a number of significant diseases, including cancerous and benign tumours, severe mouth infections and ear infections in some, all of which would have caused chronic pain.
Three of the dogs were put down on humane grounds because of deteriorating ill-health.
Two dogs died and the surviving three dogs were subsequently forfeited to the Crown following the defendants' guilty pleas.
The couple were ordered to pay costs and fines totalling $22,768.15 and disqualified from owning a dog for at least 10 years.
"While it is good that delinquents like these are brought to justice it is an unacceptable and unnecessary tragedy that these animals suffered to the point of death," Mr Reid said.
