Two men who raised pigs for slaughter and sale have been disqualified from being in charge of or owning pigs and ordered to do nearly 600 hours’ community work for failing in their animal welfare responsibilities.
The case involved more than 100 pigs, with about 20 found to be injured, lame or emaciated. Seven of these pigs had to be euthanised to end their suffering.
Following a successful MPI prosecution, John Leeroy Gardine was sentenced in the Palmerston North District Court on five charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Hudson Tukuafu Muli-Ki-Ha’an Livai was sentenced on 12 charges under the Act.
Five of the pigs were owned by Livai, who was responsible for feeding all pigs, with the remainder owned by Gardiner.
The court disqualified Gardiner indefinitely from being in charge of or owning pigs and ordered him to do 300 hours’ community work. Livai was disqualified from being in charge of or owning pigs for 10 years and ordered to do 260 hours’ community work.
MPI animal welfare inspectors and veterinarians investigated the operation after receiving a complaint about a sow with broken legs, unable to stand and with no access to water.
"This sow was seriously injured and in poor body condition, and had to be euthanised," said MPI District Manager of Animal Welfare and NAIT Compliance Central Herb Verstegen.
"Some of the other pigs were badly injured from attacking each other while competing for food and water. There had been an attempt to treat an injured pig, rather than seek veterinary care, which only caused the animal more pain and distress."
Gardiner and Livai failed to act to secure the pigs' welfare, even after MPI directed them to do so. The piggery's infrastructure was in disrepair, and a vet said it had not been properly maintained.
According to Verstegen, the piggery had adult pigs freely mixing in a single pen, and the animals didn’t have sufficient access to water troughs, and the food they were being provided was supermarket waste, insufficient for the needs of these animals.
The pen floor was covered in pig waste and boggy mud. The pigs were in shelters with no bedding, which was also unacceptable.
"Both men failed to care for these animals. As we’ve seen before the court, there are consequences for ignoring your responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act."
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