More charges over dog shootings

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Police have laid firearms charges against two men who allegedly shot 33 dogs on a rural property near Wellsford, north of Auckland in January.

Russell Mendoza and Tony Campbell already face 14 animal cruelty offences by the SPCA.

A police statement said Wellsford Police have charged two men with firearms offences.

The two men, 47 and 38, are each charged under Section 53/3 of the Arms Act 1983, careless use of a firearm without a licence, an offence which carries a penalty of three years imprisonment and/or $4,000 fine.

The 47-year-old is also charged with possession of a firearm without a licence which carries a penalty of three months imprisonment and/or $1,000 fine.

The two men are scheduled to appear in the Warkworth District Court on May 4. 

Last week Auckland SPCA chief executive Garth Halliday said charges had been laid against Mendoza and Campbell under the Animal Welfare Act.

The men could face up to three years' jail if the charges were proven.

The SPCA previously said seven of the dogs died a slow and painful death when they were shot following a row between owner Rowan Hargreaves, and his neighbour Mendoza, who said the dogs killed his pet dog.

Mr Hargreaves said he agreed to have his 10 adult dogs put down. But he said he did not agree to 23 puppies also being killed nor did he approve of the way in which they were killed. He and friend Richard Hawkings said the dogs were indiscriminately gunned down.

Police said some were maimed first in the "bloody, rifle-killing frenzy" before being "finished off".

SPCA inspectors visited the property after the killings.

"When I arrived at the property, I was confronted with a scene not unlike a massacre," inspector Sacha Keltie said after the inspection.

"It was a haunting scene of death and destruction, and I struggle to comprehend what took place there," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News