Stamping to death of cockatoo among year's worst animal abuses

A cockatoo was stomped to death by teenagers and a litter of kittens had the ends of their tails cut off, according to the SPCA's annual "list of shame".

The Royal New Zealand SPCA issued its fourth such list today, giving 50 examples of animal abuse occurring in the first nine months of 2006.

It includes:
* A litter of kittens from Lower Hutt who had the ends of their tails cut off
* Three Whangarei cats who suffered slow and painful deaths from poisoning
* An elderly cockatoo, beaten with a dog chain and stomped to death by Masterton teenagers
* A puppy beaten and dumped in a Motueka rubbish bin
* A Northland colt that died after being castrated without anaesthetic.

The SPCA's national chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said: "The list is not a comprehensive account of all the many ways in which animals suffer as a result of human cruelty or indifference.

"It does, however, include some of the worst cases that have come to our attention, as well as a representative sample of the types of incident with which we deal regularly."

The SPCA is especially worried about the growing number of cases of animals being shot by airguns, often by children or teenagers, or more powerful weapons. In Auckland a cat which was dying from cancer was shot in the head with an air gun.

"Every year the SPCA receives over eleven thousand complaints of animal abuse and neglect and this year has been no exception," said Ms Kippenberger.

Cruelty cases are also reported to the police and MAF.

Ms Kippenber said some of the worst cases this year concerned sick or emaciated farm animals left to starve.

"Deaths of animals from dehydration and slow starvation are no less distressing for them than wanton abuse and the effects are often more protracted and cruel. We expect farm animals to be well cared for in New Zealand. Yet, this year, the many cases of on farm neglect indicate we have a long way to go for that to be a reality", said Ms Kippenberger.

- NZHERALD STAFF