Media release
27 July 2005
Animal welfare captures canine delinquents

Two dogs were captured yesterday by Waitakere City Council Animal Welfare staff, following unsuccessful attempts by locals to shoot the dogs as they attacked sheep in the Henderson Valley area.

Seven sheep were killed and five injured before animal welfare staff apprehended the dogs.

“The owners and dogs have been identified. One dog has been signed into WCC ownership and the other one yet may be. Prosecution is very likely to follow,” says Councillor Vanessa Neeson, chairperson of the Planning and Regulatory Committee.

“Owners of dogs are reminded to keep dogs controlled at home and realise that an unattended dog will often revert to instinctual behaviour if left to its own devices,” she says.

Prosecution of dog owners in this situation may result in a $3,000 fine and destruction of the dog. Dogs running loose amongst stock may be legally shot.

Over the last three weeks there have been stock attacks, mostly sheep but also goats and rabbits, in the Henderson Valley area. About 30 animals, mostly sheep were killed.

ENDS

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