Roaming dog packs killing cats

• Published date: 10 April 2024
• Author: Felix Walton
• Publication title: Whanganui Chronicle

Conifer Grove resident Carl Smith saw two dogs attacking his family’s cat, Shadow, after being woken by screams and barks in the night

Smith and his family spent the next 12 hours at the after-hours vet trying to save Shadow.

“The after-hours vet found out that his injuries were just too bad and we had to put him down at 12 o’clock the next day,” he said.

“Twelve hours of after-hours vet care cost us $4000, which we couldn’t really afford. It was horrific for the three of us.”

Conifer Grove Residents’ Association chairman Kelvin Hieatt said Shadow was one of between 20 and 30 cats killed in Conifer Grove alone.

“That was due to one pack of dogs roaming at night working as a tag-team,” he said. “People, quite rightly so, fear for themselves, their children and their own animals.”

Packs of roaming dogs have become a common sight throughout the wider Manurewa-Papakura area.

The council’s animal management team leader, James Faulkner, said it was getting worse.

“It’s more common than we would like, that’s for sure. There’s definitely been an increase. So far this financial year we’ve had over...