Hamilton City Council has destroyed 16 dogs, 14 of them pups, seized from a house in the city earlier this month.
It was alleged the dogs were being bred for fighting -- a claim disputed by their owner Walter Greaves.
But the council said it had had no contact from him since
the seizure.
Twenty-nine dogs were at the Massey St property when dog control officers went to the house on February 5.
Two dogs and a litter of pups were allowed to remain at the house but two unregistered dogs and 14 pups were taken.
Two of the dogs went to the Hamilton SPCA, the rest to the council pound.
Waikato SPCA manager Chris Cook this morning said one of the dogs at the SPCA was put down because it had parvo virus and the second one had been placed in a new home.
Council spokesman Curt Christiansen said the council had kept the dogs for longer than the specified seven-day period and the decision was made on Thursday to put them down.
Mr Christiansen said the council was still deciding what charges, if any, it would lay against the owner.
Mr Greaves could not be reached for comment this morning.
- NZPA
