'It is horrible ...awful': Council puts down 27 dogs (this week)

Rotorua District Council staff have had to put down 27 dogs this week, including 11 puppies dumped at the pound over the festive season.

Animal Control supervisor Kevin Coutts said staff were upset at having to euthanase the dogs and he was annoyed at the irresponsibility of some dog owners.

He said 11 puppies, aged between 5 and 6 weeks, were left at the pound over the Christmas period and had to be put down. The puppies were cross-breeds.

Although the holiday season was generally notorious for people dumping their pets Mr Coutts said this year was particularly bad.

The dogs were held for seven days before being put down and he said several of the puppies also had to be put down because they were sick.

He said it was quite a drain emotionally when he and his staff had to handle and hold the dogs while a vet gave the animals a lethal injection.

"It is horrible ... awful. It is frustrating when owners can't even be bothered to get their dogs speyed.''

He said the message was quite simple _ pet owners needed to be responsible and more caring.

During the holiday period 18 dogs had been left at the Rotorua SPCA _ half of them puppies. Animal care supervisor there Karen Rolf said that was five more in than the corresponding period last year.