A video of a dog abuse incident is circulating on social media, showing a dog swinging in the air and slamming into the ground on a walk in Manurewa. Video / Supplied
A video of a man abusing a dog in South Auckland is circulating on social media.
Chained Dog Awareness New Zealand is seeking information to identify the man and help the dog.
The SPCA is investigating the incident and urges anyone with information to contact them.
Warning: Distressing graphic content
A graphic video of a man repeatedly abusing a dog during a walk in South Auckland is circulating on social media.
Chained Dog Awareness New Zealand (CDANZ) shared a supplied video of the incident, where a man is seen hitting, kicking, and dragging a limping dog.
The man is later pictured violently swinging the dog into the air by its leash and slamming it onto the path.
One Facebook comment said they thought the incident occurred in Wattle Downs South Path in Manurewa.
CDANZ said in the post: “If anyone knows this person and their address, please PM or contact on chaineddog@gmail.com
“The enforcement authorities will not progress further without an address. And the best outcome for this poor dog is to be relinquished to an experienced welfare group.”
CDANZ says: "The best outcome for this poor dog is to be relinquished to an experienced welfare group”.
Photo / Chained Dog Awareness NZ
The non-profit dog advocacy organisation said “this dog’s owner does need to be held accountable – and the dog to be removed from this abuse – and the dog be respected as ‘man’s best friend’.”
A SPCA spokesperson confirmed they received a complaint.
“We would appreciate it if anyone has more information about what happened to please contact us asap, so that we are able to follow up,” SPCA said.
The post was flooded with support and shock: “Absolutely no words other than I feel sick watching how cruel this is”, one person said.
“I am actually feeling significantly traumatised after watching this a few hours ago. I wish I could help this poor dog straight away,” another said.
Christine Breen, CDANZ founder and trustee, told the Herald they believe the video was taken about three days ago, from a surrounding house.
Breen said a member of the public told them the incident was at Weymouth Clendon Park.
Since the video was posted, Breen had received messages from people who have seen the man in their local area before.
Breen said she appreciated the immense support and advised people to keep a lookout.
When it is known where the dog lives, CDANZ volunteers aim to approach the owners with the goal of rehabilitation by their “experienced people like our welfare group”.
Police said this matter had not been referred to them at this stage.
CDANZ are a small group of volunteers who said they are working to end the life-chaining of dogs in New Zealand by creating awareness, working with dog-owners, advocating for changes to welfare legislation and helping dogs where possible.
Last year, Breen spoke to the Gisborne Heraldabout the fight to change an ineffective law impacting the life chaining of dogs.
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard has announced this year that dog tethering regulations have passed through Cabinet and will be released later in 2025.
These new regulations, once they are released, will give Animal Welfare Inspectors an enforcement tool to better protect dogs subjected to harmful, prolonged tethering.
“For the first time, there will be a clear, enforceable standard, allowing intervention where dogs are suffering physically, emotionally, or are kept in unsafe conditions due to the way they are tethered,” SPCA said.
Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
