SPCA man cleared of cruelty accusations

A high-profile Northland SPCA inspector has been cleared of alleged animal cruelty.
Former police officer Jim Boyd, of Kerikeri, who last year was awarded the SPCA gold star for making an outstanding contribution to animal welfare, was alleged to have breached the Animal Welfare Act.
Allegations included shooting the muzzle off a horse being put down at Okaihau and letting it run around a paddock for 10 minutes before it was successfully shot dead. Other complaints related to allegedly unnecessary euthanasia and failing to attend to injured or stray animals.
The complaints came from Dannevirke dog breeder David Balfour who, along with his wife, has been committed to stand trial on animal-cruelty charges.
Mr Boyd had charged Mr Balfour, who was allegedly found with more than 200 cats and dogs on his southern Hawke's Bay property last year.
National SPCA contracted an independent investigator to look into the allegations against Mr Boyd and the investigator's report was forwarded to lawyer Simon Meikle for a review.
Mr Meikle rejected the raft of allegations.
In response to the complaint relating to him euthanising a horse in Okaihau, Mr Boyd said his .22 Magnum rifle had backfired as he approached to within one metre of the animal.
He had then attempted a side headshot, but it fell 50mm low and the horse ran about 150m before it was destroyed with another gunshot.
He said the muzzle of the horse was not shot off as claimed because a .22 Magnum rifle could not cause that level of damage.
Another complaint related to Mr Boyd's alleged failure to inspect a horse in April 2006 which caused its death.
But it had been discovered the horse was taken to another property and drenched.
In his assessment, Mr Meikle said that the horse had died as a consequence of being drenched and not after Mr Boyd had failed to locate the animal.
"I am of the view that the Royal New Zealand SPCA need take no further action in respect of the report," the lawyer recommended.
SPCA national president Peter Mason then informed the Ministry of Agriculture the society did not wish to pursue the matter.
The ministry is expected to formally notify Mr Boyd this month.
Mr Boyd said he felt vindicated, knowing from the outset that there was nothing in any of the "spurious" allegations.
He likened the situation to that of "Chinese whispers" where the complainants relied on information from others.
"As an investigator, I don't always make friends and you can't do the work I do without upsetting people, particularly those who ill-treat animals," Mr Boyd said.