Sobbing woman watched authorities shoot cattle: sister
Posted
The RSPCA and police are under pressure to explain the actions of a team that raided a small property near Pilliga, west of Narrabri in northern New South Wales, yesterday to destroy drought-afflicted cattle.
Claire Roache's sister 71-year-old Ruth Downey, who owns the property, phoned her at the height of the drama claiming an RSPCA inspector, police and a member of the Rural Lands Protection Board took part in the raid.
Mrs Roache says while the cattle were affected by the drought, they were well cared for.
She alleges another sister May was also on the property and watched as the cattle were chased around the small farm being shot on the run.
"When I phoned May she was absolutely sobbing," Mrs Roache said.
"She said 'the cattle are running around, they have to chase them to shoot them', so it shows they're not that weak.
"She said 'they aren't shooting them in the head with one bullet, they're giving them two or three bullets and shooting them in the stomach and they're lying there kicking'."
Several attempts were made to contact the RSPCA and police from the Barwon local area command for comment yesterday.
