The police and the SPCA are investigating the death of a dog found in Greymouth with its skull smashed in.
Greymouth SPCA welfare inspector Paula Kerr confirmed today she was investigating how the dog was killed, and is working closely with police.
Due to the "sensitive nature" of the inquiry no details of the incident were being released to the media at this stage. But it was being treated as an animal welfare incident.
Ms Kerr appealed for information about any recent incidents of animal cruelty in Greymouth. People could either contact the Grey District Council, the SPCA, or the police in confidence.
Someone in Greymouth knew who was responsible, she said.
"Of course in these situations, it's always members of the public that help us with our inquiries, and without members of the public coming forward, in general, prosecutions aren't successful."
Ms Kerr said she was in the unique role of being both the Greymouth dog control officer and the welfare officer for the SPCA. It meant there was scope to thoroughly investigate every local animal welfare complaint which meant the likelihood of animal welfare prosecutions had never been higher in Greymouth, she said.
More local complaints were being received since Cobden man Hayden Growcott was sent to jail last year for five years and two months for cruelty to a cat, which seemed to reflect a lower public tolerance to cruelty to animals.
"People are more prepared to tell and, if I'm not told, I can't do anything. I do believe there are people out there in the community who know what happened to this dog."
Meanwhile, Hokitika police are investigating the slaughter of an 18-month-old pet kunekune pig on the driveway of a rural property close to the town last Friday.
Constable Rhys Martin said police had received a complaint from the owners relating both to the dead pet and the theft of another pig.
He was unable to confirm if the second pig was a kunekune or how far out of Hokitika the incident occurred.
However police were keen to receive any information about the incident and those who wished to report anonymously could do so via the 0800 Crimestoppers line, Mr Martin said.
Hokitika SPCA manager Louise Royal said this kind of incident was "totally unacceptable" but unusual for Westland.
"It wasn't just a pig in a paddock, it was a family pet raised up from a baby," she said. There was a similar incident in Pukekura last year when a pet deer was beheaded.
- Greymouth Star