John William McFall
Published on www.stuff.co.nz 11/02/2021
A Rolleston pig and cattle farmer has been fined $3500 for failing to euthanise an extremely emaciated calf that had body sores and hundreds of maggots in its mouth.
John William McFall, 55, pleaded guilty and was sentenced in the Christchurch District Court on Wednesday on an animal welfare charge, brought by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).
He was also ordered to pay of $581 for veterinary costs and $130 in court costs.
MPI national animal welfare manager Gray Harrison said people have a responsibility to prevent animal suffering and to ensure their animals’ needs are met.
Mr McFall caused this animal to suffer unnecessarily. It had been left to suffer for 48 hours.”
The charge relates to a visit to Mr McFall’s property, by MPI Animal Welfare Inspectors, in April last year, after a member of the public made a complaint.
“Initially the officers thought the calf was dead,” Harrison said.
“It was extremely emaciated with body sores and hundreds of maggots in its mouth.”
A vet inspection concluded the calf had been lying down for a significant period, and had been unable to move for at least a day.
“The calf had been suffering from severe internal parasitism which lead to weight loss.
“This situation was totally avoidable … Mr McFall did not give the animal the care it needed.”
Harrison said it would have been extremely stressed because of severe hunger and not being able to get up.
MPI encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to its animal welfare complaints hotline on 0800 00 83 33.