A SECURITY SNIFFER dog was shot dead by police at Auckland airport after escaping from its leash.
The 10-month-old sniffer dog, Grizz, escaped when getting into a dog wagon and got through a gate connected to airside. A search was launched but the dog could not be located in the dark.
It’s reported that 16 flights were grounded for safety reasons which caused delays for several hours.
When the dog was finally located after two hours, it could not be caught.
The airport confirmed on Twitter that the dog was shot after three hours.
An Auckland Airport spokesman told BBC News, “We exhausted every option available and could not catch it.”
It’s understood that food, toys and other dogs were used to try and lure Grizz but nothing worked.
People have taken to social media to complain about the incident. Many believe a tranquiliser gun should have been used.
A spokesperson for New Zealand animal rights organisation Safe told The New Zealand Herald, “A tranquilliser gun should have been used after efforts to catch the dog failed. If such a gun was not available – which it should – then they could have borrowed one from Auckland Zoo or elsewhere.
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