Calls for Public Help to Find Pitbull Stolen from Pound

Hastings District Council and Hastings Police are calling for the public to report any information about the whereabouts of an aggressive pitbull which was stolen from the Hastings Pound in an elaborate break-in.

Council has video footage of the two men breaking in through the roof of the Henderson Road pound at 11.30pm last night.

The white pitbull was involved in an attack on a Labrador on Tuesday on Heretaunga Street, where it’s understood a bystander had to use a crowbar to prize open the jaws of the pitbull.

Council has recently increased security at the pound in an attempt to stop break-ins but animal control staff says the culprits may have visited the pound earlier in the day to work out a plan.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule says Council is fighting hard to protect its citizens from this very sort of aggressive animal but this type of human behaviour is what officers face on a daily basis.

“Not only do these idiots want to own these sorts of threatening animals but they are prepared to commit a serious crime like this to get them. This is exactly the type of thug-mentality we are struggling against here,” Mayor Yule says.

“Initial investigations indicate the owner had not registered the dog – it wasn’t neutered, muzzled in public or even properly under control when it attacked. And just as we get this menacing animal off the street someone has the gall to take it and put it back out there to possibly attack again.

“Our community needs to stand up and say we’ve had enough of these dogs roaming our streets,” he says.

Hastings Police Senior Sergeant Dave Grieg says police are following a line of enquiry on the break-in.

Anyone who knows where this dog is can call Hastings Police on (06) 873 0500 or they can call the anonymous Crimestoppers Line 0800 555 111.