An Auckland woman who contacted the council about roaming dogs in her area says she was traumatised when animal management wrongfully came onto her property and seized her dog instead.
Kaylah, who didn’t want her surname used, told Newshub Manukau Animal Shelter employees came onto her property in a “home invasion” and removed her dog, named Girl, due to late registration fees.
Kaylah was unaware her fees were late.
She’d contacted the council about the safety of her tamariki with other roaming dogs in the area.
“They obviously didn’t come to fulfil my initial request,” Kaylah said.
“I didn’t realise at the time that Girl’s registration was overdue so instead of the animal management team picking up the two strays that were roaming the streets at the time, which I initially complained about, they decided to take my dog who was confined in her own backyard because my registration fees were overdue.”
The dog was taken away for 24 hours before being returned.
The council told Newshub on Tuesday that the dog had been roaming prior to seizure.
Kaylah disputed the claim and provided evidence, then the council did a U-turn and admitted a breach on Thursday.
“I was absolutely disgusted and heartbroken. I was so furious that I didn’t know how to express my emotions,” Kaylah said.
“I was all over to the place, even more so when I had watched the video and seen how it all happened.”