An Auckland woman has been banned from owning animals for 10 years after being found hoarding animals for the second time.
The woman was sentenced in the North Shore District Court on Monday after being found contravening a previous court order.
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She had previously been convicted of four charges under the Animal Welfare Act in 2016, relating to two dogs and two cats in her care.
Those charges led to her being disqualified from owning animals for three years, but SPCA inspectors were notified she was housing an animal in January 2017.
Inspectors visited her property and heard animals in her garage. They left her a Notice of Entry on the front door, but she failed to get in contact and they returned with a warrant.
Two dogs were then found at the property and a vet assessed the pair as having been confined indoors in a hoarding type environment for long periods of time.
Both dogs, a collie named Corinna and a Spoodle named Sacha, were rehabilitated and rehomed into loving families.
It's believed the woman used aliases to purchase the dogs.
Alongside the ban on owning animals, the woman has been sentenced to a twelve-month supervision period and must complete any counselling as directed by her probation officer.
She must also complete 80 hours of community service and pay the SPCA $6561.67.
SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen said it was appropriate the woman was ordered to attend counselling.
"SPCA had requested a disqualification period of 20 years in this case. We know that traditional means of punishment are insufficient to stop animal hoarding as there is an underlying mental health issue.
"Having the courts impose counselling in this case is helpful as this will hopefully lead to changed behaviour."
Newshub.
