Rotorua people have reported multiple incidents of a puppy or puppies being abused on various streets. Stock photo / 123rf
Rotorua people have reported multiple incidents of a puppy or puppies being abused on various streets. Stock photo / 123rf
Warning: Distressing content
The SPCA is investigating incidents of a puppy or puppies being abused in daylight on Rotorua streets.
One witness said they saw a man dragging a puppy along the concrete and kicking it multiple times.
Concerned Rotorua residents say there were reports of href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/animal-cruelty-spca-finds-starving-life-chained-dog-in-south-aucklands-papakura-owners-sentenced/ZEUAXPD6QJDM7LW6C2U5SM2DAQ/">animal abuse on Old Taupo Rd, Clayton Rd, and Lake Rd in the past fortnight. It is unclear if the incidents relate to the same person and puppy.
The SPCA said in the 12 months to the end of June, it received 352 animal welfare complaints in Rotorua and 13,349 nationally.
Monteith reported the incident to police and the Rotorua SPCA.
‘Resources are spread pretty thin’
Animal rights group SAFE For Animals head of investigations Will Appelbe said the organisation received reports of animal abuse or cruelty on a “weekly basis”, often from people who felt they had “exhausted every other avenue”.
“The problem is that there’s very little resources in New Zealand for enforcement and investigation.”
Appelbe said the Ministry for Primary Industries and SPCA were the main agencies responsible for investigating animal cruelty.
SAFE For Animals head of investigations Will Appelbe.
The ministry focussed on animal welfare in agriculture, and the SPCA investigated cruelty or abuse towards companion animals.
“There’s just simply not enough inspectors to really address the issue properly.”
He said the SPCA did “a fantastic job with the resources they have”.
“But they are a charity at the end of the day and their resources are spread pretty thin.”
He said animal abuse was a crime under the Animal Welfare Act but prosecutions were resource-intensive.
“Their hands can be a little bit tied if they don’t have any evidence of what’s taken place.
“There are some infringement fines that can be given to dog owners without going to court. But they’re quite low-level and very specific.”
SPCA investigates ‘numerous reports’
SPCA inspectorate team leader Alex Jones said the SPCA was aware of recent incidents in Rotorua, “having received numerous reports from members of the public”.
“As this is an active investigation, we are unable to comment further”.
Jones said any “deliberate abuse of animals” was “deeply concerning” and public witnesses could help “identify the perpetrator and hold them accountable”.
SPCA inspectorate team leader Alex Jones. File photo / Andrew Warner
“SPCA takes seriously any instance of a breach of the Animal Welfare Act, but it can be difficult to investigate without sufficient evidence, which is why being alerted to such instances by caring members of the public is so important.”
Jones said anyone with information should contact the local Rotorua SPCA branch.
Rotorua Lakes Council community and district development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said “although no notification was reported directly to Rotorua Lakes Council, I can confirm Animal Control were alerted to the incident by the SPCA on Tuesday 20 February and supported them with extra patrols and visibility in the area”.
Rotorua Lakes Council community and district development group manager Jean-Paul Gaston. Photo / Laura Smith
Gaston said dog ownership came with “big responsibilities”.
