Tauranga SPCA highlight a shocking case of animal cruelty in which a dog was thrown off a highway bridge into a river.
An outraged animal welfare group is offering a reward in a bid to track down and prosecute a pet owner who callously threw a dog off a bridge into the Wairoa River.
Tauranga SPCA is offering the undisclosed reward for information that will help it prosecute the person responsible.
Musician and animal advocate Tiki Taane says the dumping of a dog over a bridge was 'horrible'. Photo/File
Animal welfare inspector Anna Porteous said the adult bitch, which they have named Charity, was saved by a group of people who happened to be gathered in the picnic area near the bridge just after 11pm on Wednesday.
"They saw a van like a Toyota Estima come from the Katikati direction," she said.
"It went across the bridge, stopped and turned around and went to the other side of the bridge, stopped and turned around and drove to the middle of the bridge. Then they heard a big splash and then saw the dog in the water," Ms Porteous said.
"They called the dog over, the dog was really timid and scared."
The dog, believed to be a chocolate labrador shar pei cross, is believed to have fallen about 15m before hitting the water. Ms Porteous said the rescuers managed to lasso the dog with some rope while phoning the SPCA.
However, the dog was so scared of people her rescuers let the dog go after tying a torch to the rope so the SPCA emergency responders could find it.
"They couldn't really get near her but they didn't want her to run off," Ms Porteous said.
... but to actually throw her off a bridge and into water - that's just low. It's not even giving the dog a chance
The SPCA responders found the dog at the picnic area and managed to take her back to the Greerton shelter, where she was being cared for.
Ms Porteous said they had no idea who the owner of the dog might be, as she was not micro-chipped, but hoped someone might recognise her or the vehicle and get in touch.
Tauranga SPCA staff said the dog showed no signs of aggression. Charity was descibed as being a "sweet dog who is timid of people and scared of new situations."
The SPCA was used to reports of puppies being dumped but was surprised to hear of an adult dog being abandoned in such a manner, she said.
"People sometimes leave dogs, that's not unusual, but to actually throw her off a bridge and into water - that's just low. It's not even giving the dog a chance," Ms Porteous said.
BIG DROP: The Wairoa River bridge.
Mr Porteous said the SPCA was taking the matter very seriously and would like to prosecute the people responsible.
Papamoa-based musician and vocal animal advocate Tiki Taane described the incident as "horrible".
"It makes me question what's going on in that person's life to make them act like that," Taane said.
"It's just not acceptable behaviour to throw a dog off a bridge. It's totally wrong.
"I really commend the people who helped get the dog out of the water and the SPCA stepping in. I hope the story helps the SPCA find the owner or somebody reads the story and feels some compassion to go and find the dog a new home."
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tauranga SPCA on 07 578 0245.
