A dog has been shot after being found wandering around the shoreline of predator-free Matakohe/Limestone Island. An Onerahi resident heard barking coming from the island on Wednesday morning and spoke to a ranger who notified Environment Northland and the Department of Conservation. Deputy chair of Friends of Matakohe Island Sheryl Mai saida DOC ranger arrived at the island with a dog control officer at 1.30pm and found the large staffordshire bull terrier. It was thrown some dog biscuits and checked for a collar. "It didn't have a collar, and concerned for the 20 kiwi that live on the island, the dog control officer gave the DOC ranger instructions to shoot it," Ms Mai said. It was later checked for a microchip, which it didn't have either. "Fortunately nothing was in its tummy apart from the food they gave it." Ms Mai said she didn't know how the dog got there - whether it had swum, fallen off a boat or been deliberately dropped off. If would be sad if the dog was someone's pet, but "we couldn't take the risk," she said. Dogs had previously been found on the island with their owners but this was the first time one was shot. ENL manager Keith Thompson said if a dog was unregistered its owner could face a $300 fine. If it was found wandering in a prohibited area its owners could face a $200 fine plus $100 impoundment fees. "If any dog is found wandering in a conservation area and is unable to be caught, it will be destroyed." Mr Thompson didn't believe the dog swam to the island. "I reckon someone's transported the dog to the island, it's taken off, and the owner has left it." Matakohe Island is a Whangarei District Council owned scenic reserve and is home to a number of different creatures including lizards and seabirds. Under the bylaws of the council, the entire island is off-limits to dogs. The smell of kiwi is attractive to dogs and as kiwi have no flight muscles around the chest area, even a gentle mouthing by a dog will cause internal damage. Ms Mai said only specially trained and muzzled kiwi dogs are brought on to the island by Department of Conservation staff to find those kiwi that have not yet been fitted with transmitters.
