Animal cruelty in North soars over past

two months
10:35AM Monday Oct 22, 2007
By Imran Ali

Animal-abuse cases in the Far North have risen by 40 per cent in

the past two months compared with the same period last year.

SPCA senior inspector Jim Boyd has dealt with 22 cases of

animal cruelty involving cattle, horses, sheep and pigs and nine
cases relating to dogs in the past two months.

Since August, he has spent most of the time on the road and has
worked up to 16 hours a day attending to the animal abuse.

The SPCA's list of shame - featuring the 50 worst cases of

animal cruelty nationwide - is about to be released and
Northland features prominently.

"It's quite unusual to have such high numbers of complaints,

certainly in that period of time. Most cases related to starving or
malnourished animals," Mr Boyd said after having to put down
a large number of cattle and horses that had no chance of
recovery.

Most cases involving dogs, Mr Boyd said, involved poor living

conditions and insufficient exercise. He said canines were the
most commonly abused creatures because they often seemed to
end up in the wrong person's backyard.
Livestock often deteriorated when farmers misjudged grass
growth and supplies ran low, he said.

As well, the animals could lose a lot of weight in winter because

of insufficient care and feed.

Meanwhile, Mr Boyd said no one has been charged in relation to

a case in Waipu where three seriously malnourished horses had
to be destroyed.

The horses at North River Treks in Waipu had to be shot, and

another has since died from a bout of colic.

The deaths occurred while the company's owner, Ian Benson,

was overseas.

Half of the remaining 32 horses have been removed from the

property and the rest are on a special feeding regime after
animal inspectors were called to the business in Helmsdale Rd
on September 11.

Mr Boyd said it was a major investigation where a lot of people

needed to be spoken to.

In another case, the Kaitaia District Court is expected to rule this

week on whether two Awanui farmers could be separately
charged for ill-treating up to 158 sheep.

Owen Keith Kunicich, 66, and his wife Laura face three charges
relating to the ill treatment of sheep at their farm between
December 4, 2005 and March 31, 2006.

Both faced joint charges and elected a jury trial but Owen later
indicated he wanted a judge-only trial. The SPCA then had to
lay separate charges against him.

More info: Source: - NORTHERN ADVOCATE

Through exposure the truths about neglect and abuse from
animals, we hope to bring awareness to all animals lover in New
Zealand.

DON'T say “YOU LOVE ANIMALS” until you can face the truth
about animal cruelty and are willing to be a voice for them. Please
understand...We are their only hope!!!

They cannot control their destiny, nor speak of the pain they
suffer...But WE as a civilized society can... and SHOULD...and
help to put an end to Animal Cruelty!

“There is little that separates humans from other sentient beings—

we all feel pain, we all feel joy, we all deeply crave to be alive and
live freely, and we all share this planet
together.” Gandhi