Matthew Madsen
Published on stuff.co.nz Jul 25, 2018
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/105736706/puppy-with-broken-thigh-bone-left-without-treatment-for-months
For 3 months, Sky had been keeping her weight off her left hind leg and yelping when trying to jump onto a couch or bed.
In October 2017, at 4-months old, Sky, a rottweiler puppy, was beaten and her thigh bone fractured. She was left to limp around in pain for months without the necessary treatment.
It wasn’t until the SPCA in Waikato was notified by way of complaint in January that Sky would get the treatment she desperately needed.
Inspectors visited Matthew Madsen’s Waihi home where they found Sky “obviously lame”, according to the SPCA.
As a result of a veterinary examination, which found Sky had a fracture to the top of her left thigh bone and aseptic necrosis or death of tissue, Madsen was charged under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
On Tuesday, in the Waihi Court, he pleaded guilty to ill-treatment of an animal and failure to ensure an animal received treatment that alleviated any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.
He was sentenced to 200 hours community work, nine months supervision and must attend anger management.
He was ordered to pay reparations of $1654.70 and disqualified from owning animals for five years.
Madsen, in a formal interview with the SPCA prior to the trial, said the injury happened when he had given her “a couple of slaps on the bum”.
Madsen’s flatmate painted a different scene – one where Sky was dragged to her kennel, her snout enveloped by Madsen’s hands to prevent her breathing and then the sound of punching followed by yelps.
Sky panted as if having a panic attack, whimpered in pain and did not move. The flatmate took Sky to the vet where pain relief was given along with advice to return if there was no improvement.
In February, Sky was seized. She has since recovered and has ben adopted to a new family.
“Sky deserves justice,” said SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen. “She suffered physical violence at the hands of her owner that went beyond a misplaced belief in correction. It was cruel.
“To leave a puppy in obvious pain for months without seeking veterinary treatment is incomprehensible. It’s hard to imagine hearing your pet yelp in pain and leaving them to suffer.”