A macabre discovery by two hunters walking along the stopbank of the Waipawa River in September has resulted in an animal cruelty conviction for Central Hawke's Bay farmer Boyd John Harris. About 4pm on September 25 the two hunters stumbled across a trailer hidden under trees that contained 17 bobby calves,most of them dead, with others in varying degrees of deterioration. Police, a veterinarian and council staff were called to investigate the grim find. Court summaries said 11 of the calves were dead, two had to be put down because of their condition and the other four were taken into care. There was no sign of food, water or shelter. Harris, 41, told police he had been under intense personal, financial and work pressure at the time. Knowing a MAF inspection was imminent, he admitted he had made a foolish decision to load the calves on to a trailer, driving to the location and leaving it there. He claimed the intention had been to deal with the calves later but he had been unable to due to work pressures and bad weather. He had made ``an average'' decision regarding the welfare of the animals, a decision made under pressure. Two weeks later police and council staff had revisited the site, and discovered the trailer holding the calves. Water had been flowing swiftly under the trailer next to the Waipawa River, which is used for drinking water for the Waipawa township. Defence counsel Antony Willis said his client was remorseful, disgusted and embarrassed by his actions. A conviction would have serious consequences on his career as the offending was related directly to his occupation. In Waipukurau District Court Judge Geoff Rea said while the public was ``horrified'' with such instances of animal cruelty, he did accept Harris was under intense strain at the time. He sentenced Harris to 200 hours' community work, fined him $1500 for each of the two charges of animal ill treatment, ordered him to pay $130 court costs and reparations of $766.
