June 2008 News

19.06.08

• Karma, the Dalmatian (mentioned in our last update) has been successfully rehomed! This is great news, which has resulted in Karma having her photo on our successful adoptions page.

• Jasper (the Red Heeler) is still at the Haven, seeking a loving new home. You can read more about Jasper, along with our other available animals here.

• Included in this update is an article that was printed in the Waikato Times newspaper this month.

ARTICLE COURTESY OF WAIKATO TIMES

By Aaron Leaman - Waikato Times | Friday, 13 June 2008

Farmer fined for neglect of sick cow

A Morrinsville farmer who admitted neglecting a sick cow has been hit with $800 in fines.

Paul Hinton appeared in the Hamilton District Court yesterday for sentencing after earlier admitting to charges of failing to ensure an animal received treatment that elevated unreasonable or unnecessary pain and keeping an animal alive when it was suffering pain and distress.

The court heard that on July 22 last year, the SPCA received a complaint regarding a cow which had been lying down for about two weeks in a nearby paddock.

Inspectors visited and found the cow in an emaciated state with pressure sores over its body.

Hinton told inspectors the cow had been lying down for about 10 days but a day earlier had sat up and he had fed her.

Hinton said the cow had a paralysed leg and he had contacted a pet food company to take the animal away. However, he was told the company was busy at the time.

A vet was called to the property and put the animal down.

Hinton's lawyer, Rob Quin, said Hinton had been hand-feeding the animal every day and it had initially made good progress before its health deteriorated.

Judge Robert Wolff said Hinton was probably embarrassed by his court appearance.

"No doubt looking back on it you'd do it completely differently and you've learnt by this experience," Judge Wolff said.

Hinton was ordered to pay $800 in fines, $260 court costs, $226 prosecution costs and $175 in reparation.