tragic case of a starved Staffordshire Bull Terrier in New Zealand

in a shocking incident that has deeply saddened the community, a 1-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Mike was found in critical condition in Invercargill, New Zealand.

according to NZ SPCA, Mike had been confined to a kennel for several months while his ribs, spine, and pelvis were severely deformed due to starvation. the chain holding him in place was rusted beyond repair.

following examinations by forensic scientists, it was determined that Mike's body fat levels were effectively zero, indicating he had been starved for several weeks. the owner has not consulted a veterinarian or contacted NZ SPCA, despite economic constraints.

in a recent ruling, the owner was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and ordered to pay $233.88 in veterinary bills and $500 in legal fees. additionally, the owner will be prohibited from owning another dog for five years.

nz spca's chief executive officer, todd westwood, described this as a tragic case that could have been avoided with timely veterinary care. he emphasized the importance of responsible pet ownership and called for stronger protections for animal owners to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

nz spca has also pointed out that long-term tethering is an extreme and inhumane practice affecting thousands of animals worldwide. they are currently working on new regulations to prevent such atrocities from occurring.