Press Release: Auckland Animal Action
Date: 19.02.08

Cruel Work Stories: Police demean animal suffering

Auckland Animal Action questions the appropriateness of police as inspectors under the animal welfare act after reading their most recent E-Beat newsletter. The newsletter details experiences of new police; Februarys update contains a story in which the officer disregards the suffering of his supposed sheep.

The officer is called out to a possible break in at a nearby school. Upon arriving he finds one of the sheep from his station badly injured. His story continues, ”With the help of the caretaker I ‘dispatched’ it ready for the freezer. When the principal arrived I explained I had been forced to kill the offender. The poor woman went white until I told her the real story.”

“Comms had a real laugh, but it was not so funny for me. I had to claim on my own insurance for the damage”

Auckland Animal Action spokesperson Kali Sandbrook says, “The officer shows no remorse for the fact that the animal was frightened and injured and seems to think that the most unfortunate thing of all was that he had to claim under his own insurance for the damages caused by the frightened animal.”

“As a responsible caregiver and an inspector under the animal welfare act, the public would expect the officer to seek medical care for an injured animal.”

Kali Sandbrook continues, “Not only did the officer kill the animal, but he seemed to find the situation rather amusing. This is not behaviour that would be acceptable for an SPCA inspector, nor should it be acceptable for the police.”

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For a link to E-beat February 08 update please visit http://www.newcops.co.nz/AboutTheForce/BetterWorkStories/ID/74

ENDS

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