Auckland Council’s Manukau shelter euthanises much-loved family pet

Callaway was euthanised at the Manukau Animal Shelter despite claims by his family they left messages to arrange a later collection. Photo / Supplied

The fallout after a family dog was euthanised at a council-owned shelter has seen threats from an owner, claims of missed voice messages, a shelter closure and a police report.

Callaway, a microchipped and registered 4-year-old Ridgeback X, was euthanised at the Manukau Animal Shelter on July 22.

His owner, Costio Olive, had been given until 4pm on July 19 to collect him and pay the $600 owing for his release.

That day Olive said he was stuck in Gisborne and an arrangement with his Auckland-based parents to collect Callaway fell through as they were at a funeral.

“I had made several phone calls and left multiple voice messages stating my name, my dog’s name as well as my phone number,” Olive claimed.

Screenshots from his phone show he called the shelter number about 10 times in the days before Callaway was euthanised, including three calls the day he was to be collected and two the next.

Council says staff spoke with Olive several times to arrange an appointment for collection - including on the morning of the appointment - but did not receive a message to say he could not make it.

Callaway was loved by the extended family and gentle with children his owner said. Photo / Supplied

When he finally spoke to someone at the shelter on July 23, he was told Callaway had been put down the previous day because no one had collected him.

”We could not believe it. They never said he would be put down and no one told us that was happening. We were told we had to come up with the money to get and we had it, we were trying to collect him,” Olive said.

Council has provided the Herald with part of a letter to Olive that stated if the dog was not collected it would be sold, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of.

Shelter staff said on hearing his dog had been euthanised they felt threatened by Olive’s reaction and closed the shelter for the rest of the day.

A report to police was made online through the non-emergency 105 number.

“At this point, the matter was referred to police, and the shelter was closed to the public for the remainder of the day. Security was brought on site and remained there until close of business,” Auckland Council general manager of licensing and compliance Robert Irvine said.

Irvine said it was the seventh time Callaway had escaped and been found roaming.

He said the owner “did not show up for their appointment to collect”, and the shelter had no record of calls or voice messages from the owner to explain why he could not show up for his collection appointment.

Irvine said Callaway was “not suitable for rehoming” so was euthanised.

Space restrictions in the shelter meant dogs could not always be kept longer than the seven-day period outlined in the Dog Control Act, Irvine said.

Callaway had been there for 11 days.

Fifty-seven percent of impounded dogs across Auckland end up at the shelter, as it is the biggest facility, with capacity for 80 to 100 dogs.

In the year to July 2023, 1660 dogs were put down at the Manukau shelter. The total throughout Auckland was 2615.

Olive confirmed Callaway was known to the shelter but said each time the fee was paid and he was released.

“We had a problem with someone (working on the property) always leaving the gate open and we were trying to stop them doing it,” he said.

He admitted he was emotional when he was told Callaway had been euthanised but said he did not intend his comments to be threatening.

Callaway was found as a stray and adopted by the Olive family. Photo / Supplied

“As if I would do that, it was a misunderstanding,” he said.

He said he wanted to go into the shelter to collect Callaway’s ashes but had been told it was not possible because he had been put in with the other euthanised dogs.

“That was so distressing for us to hear. Callaway wasn’t just a dog he was a member of our big family, he was my first son, he was a brother and a grandbaby,” he said.

“We were trying to get there, they should have called us before this happened.”

The family has made a formal complaint and is awaiting a response.

Kirsty Wynn is an Auckland-based journalist with more than 20 years experience in New Zealand newsrooms. She has covered everything from crime and social issues to the property market and consumer affairs.