The Cook Islands SPCA is launching an island-wide de-sexing programme to curb the number of dogs on Rarotonga, after four dogs killed two goats.
Police officer Solomona Tuaati says he was called to a property in Ngatangiia on Saturday after a complaint, and then instructed a dog control officer to destroy the dogs, as they were dangerous and a risk to other livestock.
Following criticism from one of the dog's owners Mr Tuaati says all the dogs were unregistered and not desexed.
The SPCA president, Sharon Reichardt, says while she is sorry for the goats, she is concerned with the apparent lack of evidence to justify the shooting of the dogs.
She says owners need to take responsibility and get their dogs de-sexed.
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