[pima.nius] PR: SPCA: Eating pets more common than thought

The SPCA is calling for a law change following its investigation into the killing and cooking of a pet dog by a Tongan family in Auckland.
 
The SPCA is frustrated the practice is not illegal in New Zealand, and adds that people eating their pets happens more often than society realises.
 
Paea Taufa was found roasting his pitbull terrier-cross in an umu pit at his home in Mangere on Saturday. The dog had been skinned and gutted and was partially charred when SPCA inspectors arrived.

Under the Animal Welfare Act it is legal to kill a dog in New Zealand if the animal is slaughtered swiftly and painlessly.

The Taufa family say back home in Tonga it is normal, and they did not realise they were doing anything morally wrong.

Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, a Tongan cultural expert from the University of Canterbury, says in his homeland dog is a delicacy enjoyed mostly by young men.

He says he would be comfortable with it being on dinner plates in New Zealand.

"It is meat, so if the law was changed to allow Tongans and other Pacific Islanders to eat dog meat then so be it," says Koloamatangi.

However, the SPCA wants the Animal Welfare Act updated to ban the practice and will be talking to Tongan community leaders about preventing such killings.

 

"Over the next few days, we hope to talk to Tongan community leaders and enlist their involvement in making the community more aware that slaughtering and eating pets is unacceptable," says SPCA national Chief Executive, Robyn Kippenberger.

"We understand that the issue might be viewed differently from the standpoint of some other cultures. But we believe that the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders of all ethnicities will share our shock and concern over this incident," says Kippenberger.

The SPCA says it will also lobby the government on the issue.

"We don't believe the present law covers this area and we would like to see it discussed openly," says Garth Halliday, Auckland SPCA's Chief Executive.

The Minister of Agriculture, David Carter, says he is unsure whether a law change is needed but he is morally clear on the issue.

"I think when people come to live in New Zealand they need to be aware of our cultural values and in this case (the) eating of dogs is something that most New Zealanders find totally unacceptable."

The SPCA will also discuss more robust standards over what can be eaten with the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.

"The fact is that animals such as this domestic dog, slaughtered in backyards, may be disease-ridden and unsuitable for human consumption," says Kippenberger. 

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