Photo: RNZ/Sally Round
The Cook Islands SPCA has criticised the Police for killing what it describes as non-aggressive dogs on Rarotonga.
The Cook Islands News reports SPCA president and shelter manager David Pokia as saying they know there are dogs that are dangerous, but those dogs are not being targeted.
He said dogs with collars, a microchip, and which are desexed have been shot.
Pokia said desexing is the most effective form of animal population control, and the SPCA is to present a proposal for desexing to get more funding.
The newspaper reports that the SPCA and Cook Islands Police Service teamed up - alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, Te Are Manu Veterinary Clinic, and Cook Islands Tourism - to form the Dog Registration and Animal Control Committee in April 2021.
Its purpose was to review legislation relating to dog registration, animal welfare, and livestock, as well as develop animal control investment plans for both Rarotonga and the Pa Enua, and offer community outreach programmes., which is chaired by Police Commissioner Turepu James Keenan.
Pokia said the SPCA would be giving the committee "one last chance" with a proposal for more funding to spay or neuter dogs at the next meeting on Wednesday, believing the group had pumped too much money into culling canines rather than desexing them.
Desexing was the most effective form of animal population control because "you're never going to shoot as many dogs as there are being born that day", Pokia said.
The Police reportedly put down 174 dogs between July and December last year, and a further 34 in January - though Pokia believed the number to be much higher.
Of the 34 dogs destroyed last month, 24 resulted from public complaints about dogs "being a nuisance in a variety of ways", eight were strays, and two were involved in attacks on people, according to Police.
"In the eyes of the Police, if the dog is off your property it's fair game," Pokia said.
"We're still trying to keep the peace with the Police because they have an ugly job to do. We just need to arm the Police with better procedures and then we can help."
Last month, Commissioner Keenan granted warrants to Te Are Manu and the SPCA to enter the properties of those whose pets were causing issues, for the purpose of educating the owners and registering, desexing, or treating the dogs.
"We're a no-kill shelter. We need to address the owners, not the dogs," Pokia said.
Police spokesman Trevor Pitt said the Police's priority was law enforcement.
He says stray dogs are also being put down and the SPCA is entitled to its position, and any specific concerns can be raised with the Commander of Frontline or the Commissioner.