KEY POINTS:
Four members of a Dannevirke family have pleaded not guilty to a total of 51 animal cruelty charges involving five farm dogs.
Ian Livingstone, 56, Elise Livingstone, 22, David Livingstone, 20, and James Livingstone, 17, appeared in Dannevirke District Court today.
They were remanded to reappear there on September 17.
The charges of wilfully ill-treating animals and failing to ensure animals received treatment were laid on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture after an inspection of the family's property in May.
Ian Livingstone faces 12 charges and the other family members each face 13. The ministry was represented by Manawatu crown solicitor Ben Vanderkolk.
- NZPA
