SPCA warns of holiday spike in animal cruelty
With two cases of cruelty under investigation, the SPCA wants the public to remain vigilant about animal safety over the festive season.
Last week, two acts of alleged animal cruelty surfaced on social media, each making national headlines.
The first was a video of a South Taranaki man who looked to blow what was believed to be cannabis smoke into the face of a kitten. The recording was posted to several different Facebook pages.
The second incident, also posted on the social networking site, was a recording of a man who punched a possum in the head. Afterwards he was seen being egged on by others to chase the possum and continue the assault.
SPCA New Plymouth spokeswoman Jackie Poles Smith said both cases, which she previously described as shocking, remained under investigation by the inspectorate team.
Wilful ill-treatment of animals is prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act, and carries a maximum jail term of five years or a fine not exceeding $100,000, or both.
Poles Smith said just as the Christmas holiday period was stressful for families with an associated spike in domestic violence, the same risk applied to animals and pets.
The increased pressure within households, including extra financial stress, could ‘‘ blow out sometimes into the abuse of animals’’.
Poles Smith said the mistreatment of animals needed to be treated seriously as it was often a precursor for violence towards people.
Paw Justice co-founder Craig Dunn agreed.
He said there had been a nationwide increase in violent treatment of animals, especially cats, which he believed was fuelled by campaigns labelling felines as pests.
Abuse his organisation was aware of included reports of cats being shot and permanently maimed.
‘‘It’s just horrific.’’
Dunn said social media was a useful tool to raise awareness about animal welfare issues and he was heartened by the online condemnation of the actions of the two men involved in last week’s incidents.
‘‘New Zealand gets outraged by it.’’
He believed it was a time the Government considered appointing a Minister for Animal Welfare.