UNUSUAL CASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 283, 25 July 1932, Page 5

UNUSUAL CASE

(Press. Assn.-

CRIJELTY ALLEGED IN DOCKING HEIFERS' TAILS

— By Telegraph — Conyright).

WELLINGTON, Saturday. Walter Beavis, a farmer, was ch'argfd before Mr. Page, S.M., with cruelly Jl-treating three heif">rs and two c&lves by docking their tails. Beavis denied that there was any cruelty, docking being considered a policy on his part. The beasts had been operatsd on when they were two or three dqys' cld. Ccunsel for the prosecution stated that this was a unique case, and contended that owing to the lack of a tail the beasts had been deprived of their means of ridding themselyes of flies. Inspector Henry, of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, s-.aid that the heifers' tails were cut off to about nine inches from the root, and the calves to between six and eight inches from the root. Witness considered that as the tail was the only means cows had to keep flies off their bodies, it was gross eru'elty to deprive thern of it. Asked if he thought it was eruel to dock the tail of a fox terrier, witness renlied that a terrier's tail -was of little use to it, and it was the fashion to dock it. . 7 Counsel for the defence said that there was no wanton cruelty in defendant's act; it was done entirely for utilitarian and hygienic purposes. He also held that it was not an unlawful act, for to be considered in such a light it must contain an element of 7'anton cruelty. If the society would tolerate the docking of a horse's tail and a fox terrier's tail because it was the fashion to do so, then it should tolerate the docking of a cow's tail for utilitarian purposes. After witnesses had been called the Magistrate dismissed the information.