MP seeks longer sentences for animal cruelty
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As the SPCA looks at prosecuting two men who slaughtered 33 dogs north of Auckland this week, National MP Simon Bridges says he wants tougher sentences for people who abuse animals.
The dogs were shot during a row between neighbours near Wellsford, but the slaughter incensed animal inspectors and police, who said it was the worst case they had seen.
Russell Mendoza claimed one of Rowan Hargreaves' 39 dogs killed his fox terrier so he and another person went onto Mr Hargreaves' property and shot 33 of the 39 dogs, many of them pups or very young dogs.
The SPCA said the incident was a frightening example of animal abuse and the dogs would have cowered in fear as others around them died.
Many were screaming in agony and making unusual sounds as the dogs around them died, said the SPCA. It said it would charge the two men over the killings.
Today Mr Bridges said the three-year maximum jail sentence for animal cruelty was not enough and a member's bill drafted by him would increase that to five years.
"The sentences are far too light. The best evidence I have got is that only about three percent of prosecutions result in imprisonment," he told National Radio today.
He said animal cruelty was often a pre-cursor to family and other violence.
"We need to treat this more seriously. My sense at the moment is that it is not often treated as a truly criminal offence by the judges and they need a message sent from society and from Parliament as a representative from society that this is serious, that the public wants there to be a tough response," Mr Bridges said.
Yesterday SPCA inspectors who visited the property after the slaughter were visibly upset and emotional when describing what they found.
Executive director Bob Kerridge said the sheer size of the incident put it in its own league.
Inspector Sacha Keltie said she was confronted with a scene not unlike a massacre,
"I've never seen anything as horrible as this in my life, and I cannot begin to imagine the terror these animals were faced with.
"It was a haunting scene of death and destruction, and I struggle to comprehend what took place there," Ms Keltie said.
Another inspector Vicki Border said the shooters seemed to be on a "frenzied mission" and did not stop until all dogs were executed.
She said the dogs were screaming, but the men ignored a witness's pleas to do the killings more humanely. One of the injured dogs went to bite the rifle and the shooter blew its head off.
"The scale of this is unbelievable. We are lost for words," Ms Border said.
A witness described the incident to the SPCA as "20 minutes of frenzied shooting".
He described the scene as one of "gushing blood and screaming dogs as fear took over".
Police said they would seize the firearms.
- NZPA
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Lets hope they go to prison and come out in box. These pricks don't deserve to live. I just hope they get done for in jail!
Glen M #95 Simon Bridges drafted his bill, long before these recent animal cruelty cases came to light.
It's about time an MP came out and did something on behalf of the animals, particularly regarding pushing for tougher sentences for the offenders of animal abuse.
Good for Simon Bridges and here's hoping he gets heaps of support from other MPs in parliament and his bill is made into law. As an animal lover, I fully endorse Mr Bridges efforts in this respect.
SusieQ #96 - I agree with your comments though I assume it is an issue to have the dogs unregistered? Even on a rural property? I would also think the mental state of two people who are capable of killing this number of living, feeling creatures in this manner is a serious issue. Is nobody else's alarm bells ringing that people like this has unregistered firearms handy or is it just a "kiwi thing"?
Re: Nic #91, there is no requirement in any local authority for farm dogs to be registered. The fact that Rowan Hargreaves lives on a 5 hectare property in a rural location indicates they are very likely farm dogs.
I would like to see these people get exactly what they did to the animals. I know this would happen and in no way do I want to play God but may goodness, when someone get just over 2 yrs for the crime it makes me sick. These crimes are a precursor to other violent crimes which could happen to anyones family. Feed them to the dog, pull their heads off and shoot them with a shot gun while locked in a cage. Harsh I know and I kow I will get many negative comments from the 'PC' brigade but I really don't care.
m+m+t#87 - Absolutely correct although this is not the issue I certainly can agree with what you say, would be nice if dog owners got a fair shake instead of more rules and regulations. To everyone who is concerned about 39 dogs on one property - remember it is a rural property and once and for all get over it - The SPCA stated that all dogs were healthy and well cared for so this is not an issue. No neighbours complained to council or SPCA so that is not an issue either. It is certainly "not OK" to slaughter animals in this way.
Ok while not trying to detract from the nastiness and shock of this particular event, I have to wonder why on earth an MP would come out and make such a noise about this. Wanting to increase the severity of the penalty for this type of "crime" is a good thing but I have to wonder if the MP is trying to score some brownie points from constituents over what is an extremely emotive issue. It deals with what amounts to largely defenceless animals that could not outrun the killers bullets. But then, could the same not be said for many of the murders of men or women in this country. A lot of them are defenceless, can not outrun the bullet and are largely powerless to stop a killer from his or her mission to take a life, for whatever the reason(s). Is the MP going to be as equally outspoken about NZ's murder rate? Will he be trying to pass a law in parliament that will mean that life means life, where sentencing is concerned? Watch this space because I very much doubt it. Lets stop this wet bus ticket sentencing we currently have in NZ and make murderers pay for their crimes, fully. Lets see the MP's take a real and determined stance on "human" crime first and then get involved with animals and the sometimes despicable ways in which some are treated. Then I might listen a bit longer to these emotional point scoring exercises.
there is an untold justes in nz, send them to jail alot of dog lovers there .Wheather dog or anything else crulty is crulty,I have worked at freezing works.They stun the animal first.This reminds me of a vidio clip, suse and the banchies caged animals.Imageine less people,there would be room 4 every thing,the dogs didnt have a choise or a chance.
@ Big Pun
And who made YOU God? You bring Matty down for his opinion about human life over dogs, yet you go on about the death penalty? You can't decide who lives or dies - and killing two men over the shooting of these dogs (as horrific as it was) is too extreme.
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Our Government thinks nothing of killing our Pets with deadly Toxins spread everywhere and in our water supply. No one gets prosecuted for it. The SPCA doesn't give a stuff to help them. So get used to this.