The owners of the dog thrown off the Wairoa Bridge late at night have been found.
But further public information is required before any charges will be laid, says Tauranga SPCA.
Tauranga SPCA animal welfare inspector Anna Porteous with Charity who was thrown off the Wairoa Bridge on Wednesday night. Photo: Tracy Hardy.
On Thursday, SunLive broke the story that a vehicle similar to a Toyota Estima van was seen stopping in the middle of the Wairoa Bridge on SH2 at about 11pm on Wednesday before witnesses heard a splash.
The adult female Shar-Pei Labrador cross swam to shore after the incident, cold and wet but unharmed, with the witnesses wrangling her before calling the SPCA.
Tauranga SPCA animal welfare inspector Anna Porteous says in the last 24 hours the owner of Charity, named by the SPCA, has since been identified and the dog signed over to the SPCA.
'We have made contact with the owner but still require a certain degree of information and require more information from the public to help with this.
'I can't confirm it was the owner that threw the dog off the bridge, but it wasn't a case of stolen dog thrown off the bridge.”
The SPCA's undisclosed reward stills stands for anyone with information that will help it prosecute the person responsible, she adds.
Since the incident there has also been a number of offers of adoption.
But Anna says Charity isn'tcurrently up for adoption, as the SPCA needed to figure out the circumstances first.
'The dog is doing fine and well, but it isn't up for adoption as yet. When it does become available we will make that public but currently we aren't taking names just yet.”
The dog is described as being in a generally good condition and not micro-chipped. She was a little timid and scared of humans after her ordeal.
Anna says the SPCA is taking the matter very seriously and would like to prosecute the people responsible.
Anyone with any information are to call the Tauranga SPCA on 07 578 0245.
7 comments
dumped Dog
Posted on 19-06-2015 17:16 | By Tyraone
Now the owners have been found why delay prosecute make them pay for what they did to that poor animal. Maybe the roles should be reversed and they be thrown over the bridge into freezing water and see how they like it!!! I suppose the 'kid' gloves will come out and they will be treated lightly??? Prosecute NOW!!!
Whats to decide
Posted on 19-06-2015 18:18 | By Towball
you have some idiot throwing a dog of a bridge another person coming to it's aide and you are wondering where to now ?." Really", seems an open shut case to me . Do the crime and the rest is obvious or so it should seem . What did the dog give the owner to much bark chat ?. Can recommend a few bridges the dog could use although Simon is not one of them .
To punish or not to..
Posted on 20-06-2015 05:59 | By Me again
That is why half these idiots do these sort of acts. The animal can't fight back, then when caught there's a smack with a wet ticket. Hope the SPCA find a good home for Charity
Hold fire
Posted on 20-06-2015 08:41 | By Politically Incorrect
Wow, a few people here think it's the 1600's and there's been an accusation of a witch. So many people keen to prosecute no one! Put the pitch forks away, go back and look at the story - they can't confirm who did it, witnesses only saw a Toyota-like van and heard a splash. That's not evidence of who did it, so would be thrown out of court and Charity would get no justice. Patience people, stop linching the SPCA. Hopefully they will find the culprit, plus any cohorts, and they will get what they deserve. I'm sure you're right though, the punishment will be something akin to a charge of littering.
Politically Incorrect
Posted on 20-06-2015 11:35 | By FunandGames
well said, make sure we get the right person first, then the courts can sort it.
Politically Incorrect
Posted on 20-06-2015 11:43 | By Towball
Where does it mention that the SPCA are being targeted ?. Bring the pitch forks back out and lets go on a witch hunt and stone the guilty when found, health professionals will tell you this mindless kind of activity leads only to greater acts of violence usually resulting in fatalities of children and adults equally . Time to enforce the law as it was designed, not a pocket liner for some do gooder upstart lawyer trying to make a bigger ass of the law . Be another case of protect the villian as they have rights also . Results are already full prisons . Theres an investment you won't loose out on .
Wait
Posted on 21-06-2015 13:59 | By Feruno
please everyone . We need to have an amendment to the law so , in case the owner is of a specific race , they are to be let off like they would if they were driving an unlicenced , unWOFfed car without a licence . ???
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