$3000 fine for animal cruelty

A Northland man who castrated a 2-year-old colt using a knife but no anaesthetic has been fined $3000.

Maxwell Joseph Lee Anderson, 37, a machine operator of Ohaeawai, was appearing for sentence in Kaikohe District Court yesterday after being found guilty of performing a surgical procedure on the horse in such a way that it suffered unnecessary or unreasonable pain.