Monday, 31 May 2021 10:50

Hamilton farmer disqualified after death of horse

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

A Hamilton woman has been disqualified from owning horses for a year, sentenced to 100 hours community work, and ordered to pay vet fees of $498 after her horse starved to death.

Alicia Victoria Keppel, 53, appeared in the Hamilton District Court for sentencing on one animal welfare charge, after the case was brought to the court by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI).

MPI animal welfare and national animal identification and tracing (NAIT) compliance regional manager, Brendon Mikkelsen, says it was serious offending.

“The horse was Ms Keppel’s responsibility and she failed to provide proper care and sufficient food for it. For a long period of time she didn’t check on the horse.

Animal welfare inspectors visited Keppel’s property in the North Waikato area on 22 February 2020, after a complaint from a member of the public about an emaciated horse. When inspectors arrived, they found the horse had died overnight.

Mikkelsen says the horse would have suffered significant distress, was extremely emaciated and starved to death.

"In New Zealand, everyone must take responsibility for animal welfare. We encourage any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 00 83 33".

More like this

MPI defends cost of new biosecurity lab

The head of the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) biosecurity operation, Stuart Anderson, has defended the cost and the need for a Plant Healht and Environment Laboratory (PHEL) being built in Auckland.

MPI’s Diana Reaich: Building global trade relationships

Relationships are key to opening new trading opportunities and dealing with some of the rules that countries impose that impede the free flow of trade.

Bikinis in cowshed

OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.

Editorial: Support, don't stifle farmers

OPINION: Ministry for Primary Industries' situation outlook for primary industries report (SOPI) makes impressive reading.

Editorial: Agri's mojo is back

OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.

Featured

Landowners urged to trim trees to prevent major power outages

Power bills could be lower, and power restored faster following a storm if landowners took greater responsibility for trimming trees - so they don't come down on transmission lines.

Hawke’s Bay farmers donate livestock to support rescue helicopter

A Hawke's Bay farming family of self-confessed 'frequent flyers' has donated the proceeds from their spring lambs.

Biosecurity NZ ramps up hunt for yellow-legged hornet on Auckland’s North Shore

Biosecurity New Zealand is intensifying its campaign to locate and eliminate the invasive yellow-legged hornet, following confirmed detections on Auckland's North Shore.

Canterbury farmer Sean Molloy joins New Zealand Pork board

Following a recent director election, Canterbury farmer Sean Molloy has been appointed to the New Zealand Pork Industry Board.

US removes reciprocal tariff on NZ beef

Red meat farmers and processors are welcoming a US Government announcement - removing its reciprocal tariffs on a range of food products, including New Zealand beef.

India-New Zealand free trade agreement (FTA) dairy outcomes

OPINION: As negotiations advance on the India-New Zealand FTA, it’s important to remember the joint commitment made by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the beginning of this process in March: for a balanced, ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial agreement.