SPCA New Zealand supports cosmetics animal testing ban

Wednesday, 1 April, 2015

SPCA New Zealand is delighted by Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy’s announcement that the Government will amend the Animal Welfare Act to ban the use of animals for testing cosmetics.

“We’re very happy that the Government has listened to lobbying from the Green Party, the RNZSPCA, and other organisations to prevent the use of animals for cosmetic testing in New Zealand,” says Ric Odom, CEO of SPCA New Zealand.

“Although we recognise that animal testing for cosmetics in New Zealand does not currently occur, we believe the amendment sends a clear message that animal testing for non-medical uses is unacceptable. Having said that, our position remains one of steadfast opposition to animal testing in any form unless it is for essential medical research and there is no alternative.

“However, we acknowledge that the total phasing out of animal testing will take time so in the meantime we continue to call for more rigorous justifications for the use of animal testing, the promotion of non-animal models by the Animal Ethics Committees, better reporting of animal deaths, and more humane treatment of animals involved in testing.

“The bottom line is that we strongly oppose any practice that causes animals unnecessary pain and suffering, including animal testing.”

Woman left dog with 24-cm throat wound to get better on its own

Wednesday, 11 February, 2015

A Kaitaia woman who tied up a dog with wire causing a 24-cm gash in its throat and tied another dog to a clothesline with no shelter was sentenced today.

Chante Roycroft, 32, pleaded guilty in the Kaitaia District Court to the following charges relating to two separate dogs:

• Failing to protect an animal from and rapidly diagnose any significant injury or disease.
• Failing to ensure an ill or injured animal received treatment that alleviated any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress being suffered by the animal.
• Ill-treatment of an animal causing the animal to suffer unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.
• Refusing or failing to comply with requirement of Inspector to prevent or mitigate suffering of an animal.

She was sentenced to four months community detention, disqualified from owning companion animals for five years, and ordered to pay reparations of $84.83.

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Responsible dog ownership is not a matter of race says SPCA

Monday, 26 January, 2015

SPCA New Zealand strongly disagrees with Bob Kerridge’s recent comments in the media in which he links ethnicity with the high number of dog attacks in South Auckland.

“Bob’s comments are his personal views and do not reflect the views of the SPCA,” says Ric Odom, CEO of SPCA New Zealand, the national organisation that oversees 47 SPCA centres throughout the country, including Auckland.

“We would also like to clarify that Bob Kerridge does not speak for the SPCA as a whole – his position is Executive Director of SPCA Auckland only.

“Our staff, volunteers, and supporters include people from many different ethnic backgrounds who all share a common goal of advancing animal welfare in New Zealand. We proudly work with anyone who shares our common vision and would be horrified if Mr Kerridge’s comments led anyone to think that his personal views on ethnicity were shared by the SPCA. They are not.

“The SPCA believes responsible dog ownership is something every dog owner should practice regardless of their ethnicity or socio-economic status. If owners are not acting responsibly towards their animals we believe they should be held accountable, which is why we prosecute people accused of animal welfare offences.”

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Puppy falls from ute and is dragged, owner convicted

Wednesday, 21 January, 2015

On 3 September 2014, 37-year-old Tauranga man Jarrod Wharekawa tied ‘Temtem’, his 5-month-old Staffordshire Terrier crossbred puppy, to the back of his ute and drove off. Somewhere down the road, Temtem jumped or fell off and was dragged along the road for some distance.

Wharekawa took the puppy to a vet clinic where the veterinarian observed that the flesh on its right hind leg had been ripped open to expose the bone, which had been snapped in two.

Tendons were severed or missing and the bone had been ground down significantly by the road surface. The skin on the puppy’s rear and other places on its body had been rubbed raw exposing the flesh underneath. The veterinarian suspected the pelvis was also fractured.

Wharekawa refused to accept the veterinarian’s advice that euthanasia was the best option to end the puppy’s suffering. So the puppy was released under strict instructions for it to be returned for further assessment the following morning. Following Wharekawa’s failure to return with the puppy, the clinic informed SPCA Tauranga.

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