19,500 fine for ostrich neglect
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A Gloucestershire man has become the first haulier in the UK to be fined for mistreating a load of ostriches.
Graham Gilder (trading as Gliders Livestock Services of Hardwick in Gloucestershire) and the driver had denied the charges but were fined a combined total of £9,500 just before Christmas.
Birmingham City Council animal welfare officers and motorway police stopped driver Adrian Shaw, of Malvern in Worcestershire, in February 1998. He had 26 ostriches inside the cattle truck he was using to transport them. Two had injuries to their heads and necks, and had obviously t.4. been bleeding heavily.
The defence claimed the injuries were caused by "inter-bird activity". Charges against both parties of causing injury to the birds were dismissed, but Birmingham magistrates ruled that the vehicle used had not been modified and was unsuitable.
Charges of transporting animals in a way likely to cause injury or unnecessary suffering, contravening articles of the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 and section 73 of the Animal Health Act (1981), were found proven.
Gilder was fined £3,000 with £4,000 costs; Shaw £1,000 with £1.500 costs.