Friday, 13 December 2024 11:22

Lifestyle block owner fined $4,200

Written by  Staff Reporters
A lifestyle block owner was fined $4,200 for breaching the Animal Welfare Act. A lifestyle block owner was fined $4,200 for breaching the Animal Welfare Act.

A Nelson lifestyle block owner has been fined $4,200 after she failed to treat a cow suffering from severe cancer eye.

Kathryn Rona Saunders, age 57, was sentenced in Nelson District Court this week on one charge of reckless ill-treatment of an animal under the Animal Welfare Act.

Saunders pleaded guilty following prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

MPI director of animal welfare and response, Glen Burrell says the animal in question was in serious pain and distress, adding that MPI’s investigation found that, instead of bringing in a veterinarian, Saunders had attempted to remove the cancer herself, with assistance from her son.

“This action was unconscionable,” Burrell says.

There were 29 mixed age beef cattle on the property, and in November 2023, following a complaint, an animal welfare inspector examined the Hereford cross cow which had a large growth on the side of its head.

The lesion was cancerous and had spread from the cow’s eye to throughout the left-hand side of the cow’s head.

“This growth was entirely visible, and at no point did Ms Saunders seek veterinary help,” Burrell says.

“Our attending veterinarian recommended euthanizing the animal immediately and described it as one of the worst cases of cancer eye he had seen in 30 years of practice,” he adds.

The cow was subsequently euthanized to stop further suffering.

“When we find evidence of deliberate neglect – we will investigate and take action by placing the matter before the court,” Burrell says.

MPI says it strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 00 83 33.

More like this

Featured

Safer Rides initiative boosts farm quad bike safety

According to a new report, the Safer Rides initiative, which offered farmers heavily discounted crush protection devices (CPDs) for quad bikes, has made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around farm vehicle safety.

Editorial: Farewell Jim

OPINION: In the past weeks, much has been said and written about one of New Zealand's greatest prime ministers, James Brendan Bolger, who died just a few months after his 90th birthday.

Fieldays calls for strategic investment in its future

A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Red faced

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter