COWS LEG FELL OFF DUE TO NEGLECT – PUKEKAWA MAN GUILTY

18th April 2008

Responding to a call from a concerned member of the public, Inspector Vicki Border of Auckland SPCA visited the property at 596 Mercer Ferry Road, Pukewara with a large animal vet.

What greeted them was a horrific sight of a Hereford Steer whose right leg was so badly injured that it needed to be put to sleep immediately. The vet administered a sedative and whilst waiting for the effects of this to take place the right leg literally fell off.

If this wasn’t bad enough on returning to the property the following day Inspector Border found a number of goats also in extremely bad condition which had in the vet’s opinion been ongoing for some months.

At Pukekohe District Court on 16th April 2008, Mr Paul who rents the property in exchange for looking after the animals pleaded guilty to 3 charges under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

The Judge in her summing up stated that, “This animal must have been in considerable pain for a long time”

Mr Paul was sentenced to pay reparations to Auckland SPCA of $877.30, he was fined a total of $3000 plus court costs and he was disqualified from owning or being in charge of any animal for 5 years.

Inspector Border said” The pain the steer went through must have been unbearable. It is never pleasant to put an animal to sleep but at least it’s not suffering anymore.”

David Lloyd-Barker, General Manager and Prosecutor for this case said,” It is good to see that the courts are handing out much stiffer sentences under this Act. This was an appalling case of neglect.”

For further information please contact:

David Lloyd-Barker
Auckland SPCA General Manager
Tel: (09) 256 7311
Mob: 027 278 0904
Email: david.lloyd-barker@spca.org.nz

Vicki Border: 027 2780 911

This media release is issued with approval of the Chief Executive of the Auckland SPCA. For further information regarding this or any other policy matters please contact:

Bob Kerridge, Chief Executive
Auckland SPCA
DDI: (09) 256 7306
Mob: 0274 959 449
A/Hr: (09) 528 9940
Email: bob.kerridge@spca.org.nz