Thread: Possum cruelty

I recall a case of a Pacific Islander in Auckland a few years ago who killed his dog and ate it.

SPCA got involved, prosecuted, the guy got off as he'd clobbered the dog in the head with a hammer before dispatching it (whichever way he did it - may have stuck it). The blow to the head was considered to have anaesthetised the dog and thus whatever way he killed it subsequent to that was considered irrelevant in terms of animal suffering.

I believe the key question in terms of the law is whether one has causes deliberate animal suffering, not simply animal suffering.