Slaughtered dogs would have cowered in fear - SPCA

Email
Print

Slaughtered dogs would have cowered in fear - SPCA

3News NZ

(Photo courtesy of the NZ Herald)

(Photo courtesy of the NZ Herald)

The 33 dogs shot dead in what police have called a "bloody, rifle-killing frenzy" would have cowered in fear, says SPCA head, Bob Kerridge.

The dogs were shot following a row between neighbours on a rural property near Wellsford, North of Auckland.

Police and the SPCA were both investigating the shootings and Mr Kerridge said the dogs would have been terrified.

"It was a total massacre."

The dogs were shot after a fox terrier belonging to Russell Mendoza was killed and he blamed the death on or more of the 39 dogs kept on his neighbour Rowan Hargreaves' property.

The next day Mr Mendoza and another man arrived at his property with a .22 calibre rifle and shotgun and handed Mr Hargreaves a note saying he agreed to the shooting of his dogs, the New Zealand Herald reported.

Mr Hargreaves said he signed the note because he felt under "enormous pressure".

The two men then began firing at the dogs, he told the newspaper.

He said the dogs were screaming, "making sounds dogs just don't make. When one was gone, the others knew they'd be next, but they had nowhere to go".

Mr Kerridge said animals instinctively knew when they were in danger.

"They may not know the purpose of it and they may not know what was going to happen but they are certainly aware of danger and there is no question they would have reacted in that way.

"You have not only got the aspect of the firing, you have got animals dying around them and you have got the sound. From what we understand the sound was horrendous of these dogs crying in agony. That will communicate a message to all the other dogs, without a doubt."

Mr Kerridge, SPCA's executive director, said he had been promoting animal welfare for many years but when he heard of the slaughter he was "absolutely amazed. I have been in the game for a long time but we have never had anything like this."

Some of the dogs were shot in their cage or were hit by ricocheting bullets while others were shot at point-blank range. The youngest were three weeks old.

Mr Kerridge said the SPCA was still investigating whether anyone should be charged over the incident.

Police are also investigating the shooting, including the possibility one of the gunmen did not have a firearms licence.

NZPA

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

6/11/2012 11:11:08 p.m.

Michael wrote:

Russell Mendoza you are a hero. I don't care what they do to you, I support you. I wouldn't do it because the US protects vicious dogs over victims. I am sorry for you loss, you did the right thing. God bless you.

10/05/2012 11:09:48 p.m.

Robert W wrote:

This is a disgusting report. This was just plain slaughter. How can any sane person carry this out. This is what the Nazi's did but to humans. I have three dogs all adults, they are part of our family,well fed and cared for, bathed frequently and all in good health. We live abroad and our dogs guard us and our property but are not vicious and respond to commands from us. Different circumstances i know, but if anyone did that to my dogs, they will pay the ultimate sacrifice. I've been around a bit, can't stand cruelty to animals or birds as they do here.

23/04/2012 8:44:10 p.m.

barbara-ann mitchell wrote:

what a couple of cowards i think they should be put in a cage with a couple of hungry dogs they are the animails not the dogs they are disgusting

4/10/2010 3:40:19 a.m.

watching NZ wrote:

i wonder how many people drop their ring reading this and it is bloody cruel

26/03/2010 7:25:08 a.m.

courtney wrote:

how many puppies and dogs does the A.S.C.P.A.

23/02/2010 11:27:59 a.m.

Ace.Harlequin wrote:

This is just sick. I feel soo sorry for the dogs, not only because they were killed but also because of the poor conditions they were living in. All 3 men are to blame, Mendoza and Campbell for shooting them, but also Hargreaves for not giving them the proper lifestyle they deserve. Dogs are there to be your friends, and you shouldn't have that many dogs when you know you can't take care of them. I hope that Mendoza and Campbell get locked up for this, but I also hope that Hargreaves isn't allowed any animals. Its not fair on the animals.

17/02/2010 8:28:52 a.m.

2fewrecipies wrote:

The real prick is the dogs owner Hargreaves, who let this number of dogs build up, and if this had not happened there would now probably be about 49 dogs now. I hope the SPCA are watching what he does with the puppies thar survived. Will they become his new unregistered in-breed stock?

17/02/2010 1:16:43 a.m.

Emma wrote:

This made me tear up and hurt inside my heart !! Im a spca worker and take in rescue dogs .. sadly we cannot save all of them but we try our hardest i cryed seeing this on the news the all the blood !! Horror ! The terror the dogs would of gone throu trying to get outta harms way but no where to run IS SICK !! the egg who shoot them SHOULD be jailed and MADE to do time for his crime !! ITS A CRIME NO MATTER WHAT IT WAS BLODY OVER AND WHO SIGNED A NOTE !! nO ANIMALS DESERVE THIS AT ALL !! prick !

3/02/2010 4:19:07 p.m.

Samantha wrote:

It's totally sickening, it makes me cry when I think of how scared and hurt these animals were before they died, it's torture. The comment "whether anyone will be charged" is just wrong, someone should be charged they have senselessly killed and tortured other beings. Animals have every right to exist on this planet and be treated fairly possibly more then us considering the detrimental effect we have on our environments. How about we have them stuck in a cage and fire guns at them and terrify them with their impending death.... It's wrong no? They need to be locked up this wasn't just one dog either it's a total slaughter. I've been supporting paw justice in the hopes we can give animals a voice and this is exactly why, it's so sad it's just too little to late. Come one Kiwi govt and police what are you doing these guys should not get away with such cruel and less then human acts against animals they feel are less then them. That signed note proves they knew what they were doing, personally I'd rather be shot myself then let someone slaughter my pets.

2/02/2010 4:39:18 p.m.

Megan wrote:

LOCK THEM UP!!! Cruelty in this country is so high that justice needs to be done. Just because they're animals doesn't mean that you have the right to take their lives and not be punished for it. Animals don't have a voice, we do! You don't take the law into your own hands without evidence, and saying so it's up to the Animal control to take control of the situation. These guys need to be sentenced maybe a year per dog? It's not ok to kill a human but ok to kill innocent animals?! I don't think so. This country needs to work together and help fight against Animal Cruelty, and maybe some decent judges to serve proper
punishments in this country. PAW JUSTICE, is a charitable trust in NZ is out to make a difference, with everyone's help and support..we can! www.pawjustice.co.nz