An arrest warrant has been issued for a 40-year-old beneficiary who failed to appear in Te Kuiti District Court after the SPCA allegedly found her dog in a severely emaciated and malnourished state.

Luana Adams faces two charges of failing to provide food and water as well as adequate shelter for Misty, a white-tan cross breed.

The Te Kuiti branch of the SPCA has laid the charges under the Animal Welfare Act for events on April and May this year.

The accused was called to appear at 11am yesterday but the court was told that after a brief talk with the duty solicitor outside the courtroom, in which she indicated she would plead not guilty, Adams left.

A warrant to arrest was then issued.

Misty's emaciated state shocked Te Kuiti SPCA president Sandra Squier.

After a complaint, an SPCA inspector entered a Te Kuiti property with police and allegedly found Misty "severely emaciated", "shivering" and unable to walk.

"[The dog] had to be carried to the van and from the van to the vets," Squier said.

"She was put straight on a drip and wrapped in a survival blanket."

Misty weighed 11 kilograms.

Squier said one of the worst things about this case was that the owner was allegedly sitting with friends just a few feet from Misty drinking coffee and smoking.

Atkinson and Associates veterinary nurse Vicki McCormick said that when Misty arrived nobody could go near her.

"I just went out there and sat with her and talked to her. It took me about 20 minutes but I won her over, gained her trust."

It wasn't because she's a bad dog or an aggressive dog, McCormick said. "She's just a terrified dog. Really terrified. But she's got the most beautiful temperament otherwise.

"I couldn't believe it when she came in here later. I looked at her and said, "Misty?" she was 32kg. I never thought I would say, 'Misty, you need to lose weight'. She just came bounding over like a big puppy, ecstatic to see me."

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