The SPCA has prosecuted an Auckland woman who failed to provide any treatment for her elderly cat's bloody eye tumour.
In a statement released today the SPCA says Yuhua Yeh was charged in the North Shore District Court with wilful ill treatment of an animal, relating to failing to provide medical care for her cat, Nini.
The ruling saw Yeh banned from owning animals for five years, ordered to work 90 hours community service and ordered to pay $555.82 in reparations to the SPCA.
According to the SPCA an inspector first visited the woman's home in April 2017 where they found 20-year-old Nini with a tumour sticking out of the cat's left eye socket.
When quizzed about the tumour, Nini's owner said she called the vets but decided not to take her cat in for fears of the cost.
She refused to turn the cat over to the SPCA for treatment and the organisation then seized the animal under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, and took her to a vet immediately.
After examination it was found that Nini was "in chronic pain from the untreated eye tumour, untreated arthritis, and untreated dental disease" among other issues.
Due to this Nini was euthanised to end her suffering.
"Nini’s injury would have been obvious for any responsible owner or even a casual observer. They would have seen that she was in pain and needed urgent vet care.
"Nini was elderly, dependent on her owner, and her last months of life were full of pain and suffering," says Andrea Midgen, SPCA CEO.
"When adopting a pet, you must consider whether you’ll be able to care for the animal for its entire life, including covering all medical costs. As a responsible pet owner, the quality of your animal’s life must always be considered, especially if they are egregiously unwell or advanced in age."
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