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STRONG WARNING TO ANIMAL ABUSERSMEDIA RELEASE 02 JANUARY 2010
The proposal of Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga, to raise the maximum penalty for the wilful ill-treatment of animals from 3 to 5 years imprisonment has delighted the SPCA in Auckland.
“This recommendation is sending a strong signal to the community that animal abuse is simply not acceptable”, said Bob Kerridge, Executive Director of the Society. “It is time to recognise that cruelty to animals is a social sickness that is as heinous as any act of violence inflicted on fellow humans, and the two are inextricably linked”, he said.
Mr Bridges is focussing his attention on Section 28 of the Animal Welfare Act which relates to the wilful and deliberate abuse of animals usually resulting in death or permanent disability, an offence which is normally pre-meditated.
“Wilful ill-treatment epitomises the most reprehensible acts of animal cruelty we encounter, for which sentences are generally abysmally light given the nature of the crimes”, said Mr Kerridge. Recent such cases include a person who beat a dog with a metal pole before strangling it to death who received 4 months in prison, and another who shot a cat with a crossbow bolt through the abdomen for entering his house who was fined $ 500. Sadly many acts of gross cruelty are undertaken domestically by partners to torment the other, including a case where 3 kittens were thrown against a wall earning the perpetrator 2½ months imprisonment, and a recent incident where the offender pulled the head off a kitten in front of his partner and 2 young children, which is pending sentencing”.
“Where we applaud any move to recognise, and punish accordingly, these wilful acts of animal cruelty, other crimes are also committed against animals which warrant harsher sentences”, said Mr Kerridge. “This SPCA is committed to ensuring that the judiciary and the public are made fully aware of the seriousness of animal abuse, and with the support of our remarkable panel of eminent pro-bono prosecutors this will undoubtedly intensify in the New Year”.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
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©2007 Auckland SPCA, Inc. • Website design dj foster |
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