Court seizes seriously overweight dog from Haaksbergen owner
The court ruled that a 67-year-old man from Haaksbergen had neglected his dog, Lizzie, by continuously overfeeding her, causing the Labrador to become severely obese. The National Animal Welfare Inspection Service (LID) already removed the dog from the man. The court ruled on Wednesday that he will not get her back, RTV Oost reports.
“You were aware of the risks, and you continued feeding her,” the judge said to the man. “Lizzy’s well-being is now the priority, and I cannot bring myself to give her back to you.”
When LID removed Lizzy from the man’s custody, the Labrador weighed a massive 53 kilograms. The breed typically weighs around 30 kilograms. LID also seized Lizzy in 2020 because she was overweight. She was returned to the man on the condition that he would care well for her. But despite multiple inspections, that did not happen.
“An occasional treat in between meals. I couldn’t really refuse her anything,” the man told the court.
“A fat dog sounds sweet, cuddly, and spoiled,” a LID inspector said. “People are less likely to think of neglect, even though that is actually the case.
Usually, a visit from LID is sufficient to encourage a pet owner to put the dog on a diet, the inspector said. “People then get the chance to help the animal lose weight with the help of the veterinarian,” she said. “But in this case, that did not help.”
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) stressed that the man was not maliciously neglecting his dog, but was incapable of caring for the animal to keep her healthy. “Animal welfare takes precedence over the right to keep a pet,” the prosecutor said, recommending that Lizzy not be allowed to return home.
In court, the man promised not to overfeed his dog again. “I would stake my life on it, it won’t happen to me again,” he said. His lawyer added that Lizzy was like a child to him.
But the court doubted that the man would be able to restrain himself, given that he was unable to keep his dog at a healthy weight even with numerous visits from the animal protection service.
Lizzy won’t return to the man, and he is banned from owning any dogs for the next five years.
