Hunted dogs handed over

TWO dogs believed to be responsible for the deaths of up to nine cats in Feilding are in the town pound after being handed over by their owner.

Manawatu District animal control officer, Lesley Butler, said the owner had notified authorities about the dogs and been extremely co-operative in releasing them into custody.

Both dogs - a pit bull/sha pei cross and a huntaway/mastiff cross - are likely to be destroyed.
The hand-over followed the deaths of the cats in and around the south-eastern corner of Feilding over the past two weeks.

The spate of night-time attacks started in late January when an East Street owner spotted her cat being mauled by two brown-coloured dogs in the early hours of the morning.

Cat owners were subsequently advised to keep their pets indoors at night and dog owners urged to check the whereabouts of their animals at all times.

Ms Butler said the owner had been upset at the dogs’ actions and decided to respond after animal control officers had carried out a door-knocking exercise in the area.