AR-News: (NZ) Farmer escapes action over rotting carcasses

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2839435a3600,00.html 


09 March 2004 
By SID PICKERING

The farmer accused of keeping rotting sheep and pigs in metre-deep mud will 
not be prosecuted. 

An Agriculture and Forestry Ministry investigator joined SPCA inspectors on 
John Begbie's Mangawhara Rd farm north of Tahuna last month. The SPCA said it 
found five dead sheep, about 12 sick sheep, and pigs in a metre of mud. 
Mr Begbie said only three sheep were dead, and the others were suffering a 
common sickness. He denied pigs were living in a metre of mud. 
Waikato SPCA manager Chris Wood said the SPCA decided not to prosecute 
because it was not certain of securing a conviction. 
"If we think we can successfully prosecute ... we will do it." 
Mr Begbie has told the SPCA he had only recently bought the sick sheep, and 
he was treating them. 
Ms Wood said Mr Begbie had made significant changes to his farm since being 
investigated. Mr Begbie could not be reached for comment this morning. 
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