'Hoarder' gets animals back

Anne Power, pictured in 1999, wants her animals returned. Photo / APN

The SPCA'S eight-year legal battle against an "animal hoarder" has come to an end after a judge ordered five fox terrier dogs, 18 horses and llamas be returned to the owner - a woman who has previous animal cruelty convictions.

In 2003, the SPCA seized dozens of animals from Anne Power's rural property after concerns about the animals' welfare. Power - who calls herself Dame Anne - was charged under the Animal Welfare Act for allegedly neglecting animals, which were extremely thin, sick and almost feral due to the lack of care.

The former nurse was convicted in 1998 for omitting to supply dozens of cows and horses with proper and sufficient food. She was then banned from owning dogs for five years after being convicted of owning two dogs that attacked a person.

SPCA chief executive Chris Kalin said they seized the animals and were fighting for permanent custody.

"Unfortunately some needed to be put down due to their condition, some were cared for by the SPCA and others were put out with SPCA foster families," Kalin said.

The Herald on Sunday believes the fox terriers - named Tyson, Matilda, Jemima, Floyd and Lucy - were kept at the SPCA during the day and taken home by staff at night. The majority of the horses were fostered out to families who cared for them with their own money.

Foster mum Kelly May said the families received a shocking call from the SPCA on Waitangi Day informing them of the court ruling. "Out of the blue they get a phone call about 9pm on Waitangi Day which sounded like a hoax," May said. "They [SPCA] are extremely upset at the court decision."

She claimed the horses were initially "quite dangerous" but the families put a lot of time, money and effort in during the past eight years to tame them.

"When you put your heart and soul into poor wounded animals to help them lead a normal life without fear, and when you put that much energy into an animal and then they get ripped away from you, it's devastating."

Another foster mum, who did not want to be named, said she broke down when her horse Naima was collected on Wednesday morning.

"A truck was backed into the yard and the ramp lowered to reveal another horse returning to the same lady," she said.

"The truck closed and I was left with the sound of whinnies from my gelding calling after his lost friend and the sound of my sobs while my body shook."

However, she had another phone call from the SPCA that evening to come collect Naima from its HQ in Mangere.

"Naima had not been unloaded at the property because the landlord had turned the truck away and explained that the lady had been evicted from the property."

When the Herald on Sunday visited Power at her Riverhead home this week, there were about four dogs barking in cages, several chickens and birds on her front porch.

Power said the animals were in good condition when they were seized, and justice had finally been done. However, none of the animals had been returned by the SPCA.

"There is a court order for them to return the animals and it is as simple as that," Power said.