A Te Kuiti sheep farmer has been fined $29,250 for animal welfare neglect leading to 23 animals having to be euthanised to end their suffering.
Following a successful prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), 70-year-old William George Toms was sentenced in the Te Kuiti District Court yesterday on five charges under the Animal Welfare Act. He pleaded guilty to all charges.
The court also imposed conditions to ensure the physical health, and behavioural needs of all sheep on Mr Toms’ farm are met. If Mr Toms does not comply with these conditions he will be disqualified from owning, exercising authority over or being in charge of animals for three years.
MPI district manager animal welfare and NAIT compliance, Bianca Upton said animal welfare inspectors visited Mr Tom’s farm following a complaint.
“They had to euthanise 23 sheep to prevent their further suffering. They had conditions including flystrike, parasitic burden, low body condition and foot rot. Two of the sheep were rams that were dehydrated and recumbent,” Miss Upton said.
“We also found a mob of about 120 sheep suffering from malnourishment.”
MPI had previously warned Mr Toms about his responsibilities to meet his animal welfare responsibilities and was provided educational material including the code of welfare for sheep and beef cattle.
“Mr Toms neglected his duty of care to his animals by failing to provide sufficient quality feed, and preventative parasite and flystrike treatments, resulting in significant risks to the welfare of his sheep,” Miss Upton says.
“Most farmers do the right thing for their animals. But, when we find evidence of animal cruelty, we take action.”
Animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility and MPI 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 on 0800 008 333.
View the Code of Welfare: Sheep and Beef Cattle.
