Dog suffers severe anxiety and fear after owner kicked him in the head

The man appeared in the Pukekohe District Court yesterday in relation to this matter and some unrelated Police charges, for which he was sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

For the SPCA matter the man was disqualified from owning dogs for a period of seven years.

In August 2024, a resident heard sounds of a distressed dog from a Waiuku property and witnessed the defendant holding his dog by the collar and repeatedly kicking him.

SPCA Inspectors later attended the property and took a male crossbreed dog, Rolly, into their care.

Rolly was taken for veterinary assessment and it was concluded he suffered severe levels of fear and anxiety.

A behavioural examination revealed Rolly was uncomfortable when touched on his right-hand side rib cage, had lameness in his right leg and resisted turning his head to the right towards the rear.

Rolly was very aware of people’s positions in a room and flinched in response to any rapid movements of people or objects. He was hyper-vigilant of staff movements, constantly scanning the room and displaying alert body language.

Despite his fear and anxiety, he never showed any signs of aggression and seemed to have a good-natured temperament.

He showed interest in treats but very little trust, only taking them once the person had moved away from him.

The vet concluded Rolly’s behaviour was generalised anxiety and physical pain as well as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a level of learned helplessness.

SPCA CEO Todd Westwood said that it was really distressing reading Rolly’s case notes.

“Despite the obvious beatings and abuse Rolly has endured by a person who was supposed to care for him, he shows no sign of aggression towards humans.

“Rolly has made leaps and bounds since being in SPCA care and our teams are showing him what it means to be loved and cared for, and he is learning to trust, slowly but surely. This level of behaviour towards any animal is completely unacceptable. We are grateful that someone called us so we could get to Rolly and give him the care he needs and deserves.”

The defendant declined to be interviewed by SPCA Inspectors, but when spoken to at the property he told the inspector he had kicked Rolly in the head because “Rolly had done something, but he could not remember what, and he had become angry.”

He admitted to previously taking his anger out on Rolly and told the Inspector if they didn’t return him, he would “get another dog and kick that one as well.”

Rolly is currently in foster care and is doing well, with the hopes that he will be rehomed with someone who can give him time, patience and training as he continues to learn and trust again.