Castration of dog brings $50 fine

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 21

Castration of dog brings $50 fine

After what is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind In New Zealand, a Christchurch man was convicted of castrating a dog while not being a veterinary surgeon or under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon John Galbraith, of Christchurch, was fined $5O after the charge was formally proved in his absence, before Mr K. H. J. Headlfen. S.M. Mr H. J. Hammett, an Inspector for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said in evidence he had examined the dog, a beardiecross, and found it was suffering from a “terrible infection.” The defendant told him he had performed the operation on several cats and dogs in the shed in his garden. Galbraith was not a veterinary surgeon, and he was not supervised by one. Counsel for the informant, Mr

D. A. Oldham, said the prosecution was the first of its kind. Under the Animals’ Protection Amendment Act (1971) which came into force in January this year, and prohibits the operation being performed on most domestic pets and farm animals by unqualified persons, penalties of three months imprisonment or a fine of $2OO or both may be imposed by the courts. Under the heading, “Offences of Cruelty,” the amendment says that penalty may be imposed on anyone who “castrates or causes, or procures to be castrated any dog. horse, cat, mule or ass of any age, unless the castration is performed by, or under the supervision of, a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner.” The amendment also applies to any bovine animal, sheep, goat, or pig over the age of nine months. The dehorning of animals is also covered by the amendment.