Is NZ too soft on animal cruelty?

A sign hangs near the yard where two pitbull-crosses attacked a five-year-old girl. Photo / Alan Gibson

Opinion

A dispute between two neighbours has led to the frenzied slaughter of 33 dogs on a rural property in Wellsford, 80km north of Auckland.

Earlier in the week, two pitbull-crosses were destroyed after they mauled a five-year-old girl in Taneatua, south of Whakatane. Last week a dog was put down after it attacked former All White Stu Jacobs.

The maulings have sparked a call to improve education for dog owners. July will see a review of dog laws in New Zealand.

David Snook was sentenced to almost two and a half years in prison this week after he twisted the head off a kitten in front of his family, while Te Ahu Mankelow is awaiting sentence after he fed live kittens to his dog.

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