Editorial: SPCA case protects in many ways

The SPCA deserves congratulations for its successful prosecution in the infamous painted hawks case.

Readers were appalled when our publication, Dannevirke News, broke the story in May 2010 that someone in the region had been painting native hawks red then releasing them to a slow but certain death.

We commented at the time that this was a particularly cruel and depraved act. The SPCA agreed and took action.

The organisation has achieved a conviction against a local farmer on two charges of ill-treating native hawks. The man, who farms on a property east of Dannevirke, is now facing a $50,000 fine and/or 12 months' imprisonment on each charge.

It was a difficult case involving a vast number of man-hours and money, as our story on page 5 outlines.

The SPCA spent more than $5000 on the services of a specialist computer forensic expert. A vet was needed for a post-mortem examination on a painted hawk handed into the Dannevirke News office, there were lawyers, search warrants, interviews with the accused and the cost of the time of senior SPCA staff.

When sentencing is done on January 30, the SPCA will be able to close the file on a particularly disturbing case knowing it has done its job well.

This sort of behaviour toward innocent animals chips away at our collective sense of human decency. It can not be left unpunished. If, as a society, we condone such cruelty through lack of appropriate censure, we are all the poorer for it and set a bad example to our children.

When seen in that light, the SPCA's determination to investigate and prosecute should be applauded. By taking action, not only are they helping to protect animals but they are also protecting our own sense of what is moral and right and what is not.