An “emaciated” dog seized from a Warwick man is now healthy and happy under the care of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a court heard.Kurt Dowling, 30, is standing trial at Magistrates’ Court on a charge of permitting unnecessary suffering, pain and injury to be caused to a dog, a pit bull named Venom.However, defence lawyer Eugene Johnston suggested that SPCA welfare officer Debbie Masters was determined to take the animal away.The court heard that on December 7, 2010, Ms Masters attended a Cedar Lane residence after receiving a complaint about the dog’s condition.“There were two dogs on the premises that didn’t look good at all,” she told the court.One in particular was in an emaciated condition, she said. It was seized by Government wardens on January 21, 2011, and taken to Ettrick Animal Hospital.“After the examination, I went to the wardens and said I wanted to pursue a cruelty investigation,” she said.Ms Masters agreed that she acquired a warrant to take the dog into SPCA custody, and another warrant ten days later, to seize a chain that had been used to secure the animal.Mr Johnston responded: “You were adamant that the dog not be taken back over to Kurt Dowling. You would much rather keep the dog at the SPCA. You love dogs so much, you can’t stand to see a dog treated in this way.” Ms Masters said: “That’s not how I work.”The court heard that the dog was not registered at the time, and had last been licensed by a Keijon Steede. However, Mr Johnston said his client had in fact licensed the animal on the same day it was seized by Government animal wardens.She was then asked: “After feeding, this dog gained weight?” Ms Masters agreed, and said the animal was still being held by the SPCA, where it was “very happy and looks wonderful”.Asked by Mr Johnston if she would have a problem if Mr Dowling was able to take the dog back, Ms Masters responded: “That’s not up to me.”Pc Keola Thompson, of the police Western Community Action Team next took the stand, and told prosecutor Tawana Tannock she had been sent a metal chain by Ms Masters in May 2011, for use in an animal cruelty case.Pc Thompson said she visited the Cedar Lane house and was advised by a woman there that Mr Dowling had care and control of the dog.“She said he came to the house regularly to care for the dog and feed it,” she said.On July 1, she said, Mr Dowling attended Hamilton Police Station and made no reply when cautioned. He was then charged with the offence.However, Pc Thompson then told Mr Johnston that Mr Dowling had attended previously for a taped interview.“We could not do it due to conflicting stories from the different agencies, the SPCA and animal wardens,” she said.The case continues next month.