Not only Chinese and Korean eat dogs....

smiles

A man who killed his dog and then roasted it in his backyard needsto be educated rather than put before the courts, says Auckland City'sanimal-loving mayor, John Banks.

Paea Taufa was found cooking his pitbull terrier-cross in an umu pit at his Mangere home in February.
Havingstruck the dog - rendering it unconscious - before killing it, Mr Taufawas not found to have done anything illegal and could not be prosecuted.

ButMr Banks, an animal rights activist for years, says better education onlocal customs and sensibilities is needed rather than changing the law.

"Thisactivity is deeply offensive and totally wrong in our New Zealandsociety. For many people, this is absolutely repulsive," the mayor said.

"Butthe way forward is education. This man has obviously not been taughtthat killing and eating a domestic pet is not right in New Zealand."

In Tonga, where Mr Taufa is from, dog meat is considered a delicacy.

Mr Taufa said he was unaware that cooking his pet was not normal in New Zealand.



"I didn't know I couldn't cook the dog," he said. "In Tonga, any time there I cook the dog and it is okay. Dog is good food."

Animal welfare group Save Animals From Exploitation said it was totally opposed to killing and eating domestic pets.

Campaigndirector Hans Kriek said killing the dog was "horrific" but peoplecriticising Mr Taufa were not completely innocent themselves.

"We are opposed of this, very much. But to a certain amount there is a lot of hypocrisy," Mr Kriek said.
"Peoplewill be quick to demonise this man and yet [New Zealand] is sendingpacks of horse meat every year to Europe, where they eat horse."

MayorBanks said hating Mr Taufa for what he had done was uncalled for, asthe level of cruelty and violence towards domestic pets was "shameful"in New Zealand.

The SPCA said it could not prosecute Mr Taufa because he had killed the dog in a humane way, with minimal pain and suffering.

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Well done Togan!