Comments on: Catcha Cray

By: George D

George D — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:17:50 +0000

The Police have enough things to do, IMO. People expect them to chase burglars. I can’t remember them as ‘designated agents’, but I’m not sure on that matter.

SPCA and MAF on the other hand.

By: lprent

lprent — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:28:39 +0000

And the police…… who have more resources than either MAF or the SPCA

By: George D

George D — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:23:37 +0000

Rocky, this is a worthwhile issue. But I would have thought that being burned alive was the most significant cause of suffering to crayfish in New Zealand. I don’t really get SAFE’s strategies.

I also think that a campaign needs to be launched against the SPCA and MAF, for their consistent failure to prosecute animal welfare issues. In this case, as with many others, the law is pretty clear. s29 (c) and (h) cover this – being the sections that relate to the abuse of animals for entertainment purposes.

Short of an amendment to the law allowing for other parties to launch prosecutions (which won’t happen under this Government, and I’m not confident of the next), causing the SPCA and MAF pain and embarrassment seems to be the only way to achieve a more consistent implementation of the AWA (which is a pretty good Act, in theory). When they realise that they have a job to do, things might improve.

By: Eclipse

Eclipse — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:51:24 +0000

gomango:

Near as I can tell from the news reports, the manufacturer of the games was visited by an SPCA inspector before the release of the machines, and said he was happy with the R&D and effects of the machine on the crays. The SPCA has responded that Catcha Cray were unwise to take this as an endorsement, describing it as an ‘off-hand comment.’ Much as I dislike the game, it’s a bit worrying that the SPCA is describing people who act on the advice of their officers as naive.

By: gomango

gomango — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:43:25 +0000

what’s the background story to this comment?

While the Catcha Cray manufacturers initially boasted that the SPCA were fine with the machines (due to one moron inspector, Tod Neal)

By: lprent

lprent — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:34:37 +0000

Nothing that I’ve seen (pretty much the usual). However I haven’t been watching the news.

By: Tigger

Tigger — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:28:35 +0000

What has the government said about this? Couldn’t find anything so far…

By: Tiger Mountain

Tiger Mountain — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:07:47 +0000

Direct action anyone? What is it with some watering holes, dwarf throwing, wifebeater Wednesdays, and now Cray torturing. A small sledgehammer might just be the fashion accessory for that next happy hour.

By: Rex Widerstrom

Rex Widerstrom — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:45:24 +0000

My first thought when I read this was that NZ must rank as one of the most over-regulated (in terms of personal behaviour) and over-Policed countries in the world, yet there’s no law to automatically forbid this vile practice, let alone a willingness to prrosecute under the laws we do have?

When willing and supposedly intelligent humans want to strap on sumo suits, be catapaulted into velcro walls or ride a mechanical bull in a pub, there’s busybodies galore telling the operators what they can and cannot do.

Go a step further and try to run an “extreme fighting” event, again involving people fully cognisant of the risks, and you might as well be suggesting capturing people and burning them alive such is the outcry.

Yet we’re free to inflict this kind of sickening sadism on a sentient creature and the Police can’t be bothered putting down their radar guns and tazers long enough to mount a prosecution?!

By: Brett Dale

Brett Dale — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:33:35 +0000

Heck even some Restaurants have stopped the practice of customers choosing their lobsters/crays that are swimming in a tank.

But this is just sick, hopefully the SAFE campaign will work.

By: Gordon Shumway

Gordon Shumway — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:12:44 +0000

Disgusting. Never knew such a thing existed so thanks for raising awareness.

By: travellerev

travellerev — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:44:29 +0000

disgusting

By: the sprout

the sprout — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:27:37 +0000

a very sick practice. amazing it’s been allowed at any level really.

By: rocky

rocky — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:06:00 +0000

Agreed, but I can’t think of a case under the Animal Welfare Act that the police have prosecuted. That’s despite them being one of the three bodies authorised to take prosecutions under the Act.

By: lprent

lprent — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:50:59 +0000

Urggh that is revolting. What kind of people would ‘hunt’ in that way? What kind of propieter would let it happen? That ranks with other sports like cock and dog fighting.

Perhaps this is an opportunity for the police to use their powers under the act? After all they deal with the pubs at the times this is going on?It would be a good exercise for them to exercise their powers under the act. Sort of a toe in the water in something that so clearly violates the act, and which relieves the pressure on the over worked SPCA inspectors.