INJURED STEER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22434, 2 June 1936, Page 11

INJURED STEER

AUCTIONEER CHARGED

SOCIETY LOSES ACTION

ADVICE BY MAGISTRATE "ANY FUTURE CASES" [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI. Monday A case in which a considerable amount of evidence was called occupied the attention of the Whangarei Police Court to-day, whe:n Walter Wakelin, of Whangarei, one of the best-known stock dealers and auctioneers in North Auckland, was charged that, between February 17 and 26, being the owner of a steer with a broken leg, he omitted to supply it with proper and sufficient food, water and shelter. Ho was. also charged with permitting the steer to suffer unnecessarily, by wantonly or unreasonably omitting to have the animal cither treated or destroyed.

Mr. A. M. Woods appeared for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Mr. Trimmer represented defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Keith George Waters, honorary inspector of the society, said ho went to Ruatangata about a week after the animal had been injured. He saw the steer in a paddock, but he could not approach within 40 y«rds, as it appeared to be in a maddened condition. From the condition of its leg he considered the animal should "have been destroyed. It had been wandering in a small circle. The water in the paddock was practically inaccessible to the steer. Witness destroyed the animal the following day. Rifle and Humane Killer

Mr. Trimmer: What did you use? Witness: I could not get close enough to use the humane killer so I used a .303 rifle and them the humane killer to make sure.

On what evidence was the certificate to kill given?—l supplied the necessary information.

Witness said ha considered the animal should • have, been placed in a sling and the leg put in splints. Alternatively the animal should have been destroyed. For the defence, James Hoey, farmer, of Kamo, said he also was a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. At the request of defendant, he examined the steer. He considered the beast was put intd one of the best paddocks in the district, having plenty of shelter, water and feed. It was ideal. Customary Procedure Mr. Trimmer: If a cow or steer breaks its leg is it the custom to shoot it?

Witness: Oh, no:; unless thei break ie very bad. Broken legs among cattle are not uncommon. The usual method of healing was tie one adopted by Wakelin, to leave ufae animal in a good paddock by itself.

What is the diflerence regarding & horse with a brohen leg?— Cow bono has marrow in it., while a hcrse has none. If a horse breaks its leg it is shot, not because of agony, but because it invariably would be of no further use. Cow bone heals comparatively easily.

Clarence Hoey, drover, of Kamo, agreed that defendant did all that was necessary and customary for the care of his animal. Defendant said in evidence that he had been dealing in cattle all his life. At least £70,000 worth was handled by him each year. Witness' son ' remained with the animal practically all the day until it could be quietly driven into the paddock. He was astounded to hear the steer had been shot. " A Natural Splint »

The skin below the knee of a steer, said witness, was double the thickness of that of the resit of the 'body, and acted as a natural splint. Had the skin been pierced witness would have had the animal immediately destroyed. No practical farmer, or anyone who knew anything about stock, would think of destroying cattle with an ordinary break such as this!.

Harold Adam Bayley, inspector of stock, said the usual system in a simple fracture was to leave the beast alone with food and water.

The magistrate, Mr. G. N. Norris: If the inspector of stock is satisfied then I must be also It is noteworthy that all the witnesses of long experience agree that the proper course was pursued. . If the society wants to suggest that an animal should be destroyed so as to save suffering, irrespective of whether it will recover or not, then I cannot agree. Both charges will bo dismissed.

Mr. Norris advised that in any future cases the society should get advice from the Agricultural Department before proceeding with any similar charges.