Ministry probes pig killing at pound

Jessica Maxwell has welcomed a ministry probe into the killing of a pig at Napier City Council pound. Photo / Supplied

The Ministry for Primary Industries says it is "querying" the killing of a pig at Napier City Council's pound.

A spokesperson for Animal Welfare Group WATCHDOG!, Jessica Maxwell, earlier said she believed the ministry was investigating the incident, where a pig was believed to have been stabbed to death at the pound in July 2015.

In a separate investigation into the pound last November, a ministry audit identified four major non-compliances, two minor non-compliances.

Ms Maxwell, said the group's members were "horrified to learn that two NCC Animal Control Officers and an unauthorised accomplice killed the impounded pig". She claimed the act was in breach of Council protocol, with the "distressing attack recorded on CCTV".

She believed the Animal Control Officers involved were no longer employed by council.

"Council's truncated version of events in the media didn't ring true, including that its spokesperson stated that the pig was wild, when we have seen photos of it and been reliably informed that it was a tame," Ms Maxwell said.

Senior management decided instead to say nothing and kept the incident "under wraps", she said.

"The unsanctioned killing, in our view, appears to have breached the Animal Welfare Act."

A council spokesperson last night said Ms Maxwell's comments were "inflammatory". "The wild pig matter was investigated and dealt with in 2015. We will not be responding further," the spokesperson said.