Dog shot dead by police because it delayed 16 flights
Grizz, a trainee explosives dog, was being put into a van at Auckland Airport, New Zealand, when he bolted.
Something is believed to have spooked the 10-month-old bearded collie/German short haired pointer cross who then ran into the secure area.
It took two hours to find him because it was 4.30am and it was dark.
Mike Richards, Aviation Security Service spokesman said: ‘The fact that the incident took place very early in the morning did not help as it was pitch black for the first two hours and he could not be found.
‘When he was located he would not let anyone near him and kept sprinting across the runways.
‘We tried everything – food, toys, other dogs, but nothing would work. The area is too vast and too open to try and use mobile fencing.’
It is believed that Grizz didn’t respond well because he didn’t have a permanent handler.
Around 16 flights were delayed as a result of the disruption so police were asked to shoot him, a spokeswoman for Auckland Airport, Lisa Mulitalo, said.
‘The dog was clearly distressed and wouldn’t let anyone near it so the decision was made to shoot the dog,’ she said.
He was shot dead by a police marksman.
Understandably people were not happy that the dog had been shot.
Hey Auckland Airport, ever heard of a tranquiliser gun!!!???RIP little Grizz— Outback Camel (@aussiecamel9745) March 17, 2017
Inspector Tracey Phillips of Counties Manakau District Police said Aviation Security Service (Avsec) had made ‘considerable efforts’ to catch the dog before killing him and the decision to shoot the dog – which would have cost NZ $100,000 (£55,000) to take through training, was not taken lightly.
‘Our thoughts are with the Avsec dog handler involved,’ she said. ‘This is not an outcome anyone wanted and police were only asked to be involved as a last resort.’
A vet told the NZ Herald that it would have been very difficult to sedate the distressed dog even if a tranquiliser dart had been located, due the size of the space involved and the speed of the chase.
Callum Irvine, head of veterinary services at the New Zealand Veterinary Association, said that darts are most successful at close range and the area was ‘too vast and open’ to use mobile fencing to narrow down the chase.
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