Nearly 30 dogs, allegedly bred for fighting, have been found at a Hamilton house and police and council officials yesterday took 16 of them off their owner.
The 29 dogs were found in a house contaminated with faeces in Frankton, by animal welfare officers.
Hamilton City Council animal careand control manager Marion Peck said the council was called after receiving complaints about the number of dogs on the property.
Ms Peck said most of the dogs were pitbull and staffordshire cross.
Police accompanied the SPCA and council to the house and 16 dogs were taken from the owner who lives at the house with a number of other family members.
Two dogs taken are at the Hamilton SPCA while the other 14, including a bitch and her litter of puppies, were taken to the council's animal centre in Frankton.
Ms Peck described the situation the dogs were living in as "deplorable".
"A bedroom was being used to keep most of the dogs in."
Waikato SPCA manager Chris Wood said the house was contaminated with faeces.
"It's beyond me how anyone could keep 29 dogs in a house and not clean up after them."
Ms Peck said the dogs remaining at the property included another bitch, which is registered, and her litter are under three months old.
"The litter is due for weaning -- we certainly got them at the right time."
Ms Peck said the owner had also breached dog laws by not having a permit required of owners who have more than two dogs in the city.
"Keeping dogs in the city is a privilege ... this case highlights there are owners who have scant regard for the welfare of their dogs."
