Wellington SPCA is welcoming the decision by Judge Walker today to place a life time ban on owning a ‘companion animal’ on Mr Lindsay Ward of Tio Tio Road, Strathmore.  Lindsay Ward today pleaded guilty to, and was convicted of, one charge of ill-treatment of an animal.  Judge Walker stated that he thought the length of disqualification was fair as he had absolutely no faith that Mr Ward could correctly care for another animal after the way in which he failed to care for the cat he was convicted of ill treating.  He also stated that this was one of the more serious cases of ill-treatment of an animal that the court had seen.

 On Monday 16 January Wellington SPCA responded to a complaint made by a member of the public about the condition of a cat belonging to Mr Ward.  Wellington SPCA’s Animal Welfare Inspector, Brett Lahman visited the address and Mr Ward showed him his cat which had its nose and parts of its upper jaw missing.  The cat, named Junior, was having difficulty breathing, was very thin and in distress.  Mr Ward said he had owned the cat for 10 years and had never taken it to a vet.

 ”To be honest, I was surprised the cat was even alive” Inspector Lahman said.

 Mr Ward admitted to Inspector Lahman that the cat had come home about three weeks earlier with its nose ‘bitten off’.  He said he had not done anything about the injury.  When asked if he thought the injury would have been painful he responded “Oh, I’d imagine so. Christ, if someone bit my nose off…” 

 Junior was seized by Inspector Lahman under the Animal Welfare Act (1999) and examined by a Wellington SPCA Vet who immediately humanely euthanized Junior on welfare grounds – he was suffering considerable pain and distress, his condition was untreatable and any delay would have caused further suffering.

 ”I was disgusted to find at cat in this condition, he looked awful, he didn’t even look like a cat.  Lindsay Ward could have just called a Vet or Wellington SPCA when the cat was wandering around in the house looking like this” added Inspector Lahman “it outstanding that he just ignored Junior’s obvious pain and distress.”

 Lindsay Ward was also ordered to pay Wellington SPCA costs amounting to $922.12, solicitor’s fees of $250 and was given 150 hours community service.