Eminent Prosecutors Assemble To Combat Animal Cruelty

Thursday 9 April 2009

A formidable force of the most senior members of Auckland’s legal profession are collectively offering their services, without charge, to the Auckland SPCA (The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in an unprecedented show of strength to bring animal offenders to justice.

The establishment of “The Pro-Bono Panel of Prosecutors for the SPCA Auckland” is the initiative of Anita Killeen who has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Auckland SPCA.

Under the Animal Welfare Act, (1999), SPCA warranted inspectors are able to bring serious animal offenders before the Court, usually preparing their own cases, and often needing to call on costly legal assistance when cases go into defended hearings. The Pro-Bono Panel of Prosecutors for the SPCA Auckland has 21 members, consisting of the most senior members of New Zealand’s legal profession including 13 Queen’s Counsel, and senior Barristers and Partners of the leading law firms in New Zealand.

Ms Killeen said “one of the SPCA’s objectives is for greater deterrence and denunciation for those offenders who have been prosecuted for the more serious cases of cruelty against animals. In establishing a Pro-Bono Panel of Prosecutors for the SPCA Auckland with significant depth and breadth of litigation experience we will ensure that these prosecutions are put to the Court in the most effective and appropriate manner”.

The Executive Director of the Auckland SPCA, Bob Kerridge, is thrilled with what he calls ‘the most impressive line-up of prosecutors the country has ever seen.’

“I am concerned that the Society, which, has an important law enforcement function, receives no financial support in the execution of its duties in bringing prosecution proceedings before the Court’, he said. ‘The cost to the organisation is immense, and in this ever tightening economy their operating funds, which come exclusively from public donations, are severely drained in the undertaking of this very vital aspect of their valuable work to the community’.

The severity of the offences against animals cannot be understated’, said Bob Kerridge. ‘We are aware of the research that shows there is a link between animal cruelty and human cruelty, and in recognising that the Courts have the opportunity to treat each with equal force. That so many gifted lawyers are prepared to provide their services to the Society to ensure complete justice is done, and to develop the law in this area, warms my heart’, he said.

For more information contact :

Bob Kerridge
Executive Director, SPCA Auckland
09 2567306
bob.kerridge@spca.org.nz