3 June 2008
Tasman District Council is advising farmers to check the state of their fences after a spate of incidents where stock have wandered on to roads.
Wandering animals on roads are serious hazard to motorists, particularly at night. A large cattle beast can write off a car without any problem, and potentially cause injury to the occupants. In the past 10 years, nine people have been killed on New Zealand roads in accidents involving wandering stock.
Owners whose animals have needed to be caught and either impounded or returned to their paddocks by Council’s Animal Control Officers can, at Council’s discretion, be liable for any costs incurred.
Not only is the secure fencing of stock a safety measure for the animals and for the public, there is both an obligation and reasonable expectation that all stock are securely contained and unable to break out of paddocks.
For more information contact Animal Control at Tasman District Council 543 8400.
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