New television programme

Auckland barrister Catriona MacLennan

Barrister presents new television programme about animals Auckland barrister Catriona MacLennan is presenting a 13-part, half-hour programme about animal law and animal welfare on Sky Channel 83 from 8 May 2013. The series will cover issues such as the Animal Welfare Act 1999; the links between animal cruelty and domestic violence; teaching children empathy and the review of the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

• Episode 2, screening on 15 April will discuss a programme to teach children empathy
• Episode 3 screening on 22 April discusses the links between animal cruelty and domestic violence

Guests on the programme will include Auckland Crown Solicitor Simon Moore, who will speak about prosecutions under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 and sentencing in animal cruelty cases and Dr Brian Edwards, who will speak about his love of cats. RNZSPCA president Bob Kerridge will discuss his long involvement with animals and animal welfare and Associate Professor Annie Potts of the University of Canterbury will discuss hens, including their intelligence and ability to understand abstract concepts. Other topics include cultivating monarch butterflies, planting a butterfly garden and bee keeping. World-famous author, Jeffrey Masson, will speak about pigs. Senior lecturer at Unitec, Arnja Dale, will discuss the First Strike campaign and the links between domestic violence and animal cruelty.

The programme will screen on Wednesdays at 7.30pm for 13 weeks, beginning on 8 May 2013. It can be viewed on Sky Channel 83;  free to air in Auckland on Face Television (everyone in Auckland can get Face Television – viewers who have not watched the channel before need to tune for it); or online at www.scoop.co.nz or at http://www.livenews.co.nz