Barbecued dog OK if it's killed humanely

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A South Auckland man who cooked his pet dog in a backyard barbecue cannot be prosecuted because it was killed humanely, the SPCA says.

Paea Taufa was found roasting his pitbull terrier-cross in an umu pit at his home in Mangere, the Sunday News said.

The dog had been skinned and gutted and was partly charred when SPCA inspectors arrived.

Mr Taufa said he was surprised when inspectors arrived as dog was a delicacy in Tonga. "I didn't know I couldn't cook the dog. In Tonga, any time there I cook the dog and it is okay. Dog is good food."

He decided to cook the dog because it was too skinny and had become unmanageable. He knocked the dog unconscious with a blow to the head then slit its throat, which is regarded as humane.

It is legal to kill a dog if it is done swiftly and painlessly. However, SPCA Auckland chief executive Garth Halliday said Mr Taufa's actions were unacceptable.

"Although we appreciate the difference of cultures that exist in a place like New Zealand, the SPCA finds this sort of treatment of any animal to be totally unacceptable."

SPCA inspectors said there was evidence killing and eating dogs was becoming more common.

Mr Taufa said he would not cook another dog.

- NZPA