Dog shooting accused back in court

Two men who allegedly shot 33 dogs on a rural property north of Auckland were back in court today.

Russell Mendoza and Tony Campbell appeared in North Shore District Court today for a pre-committal hearing on animal cruelty and firearms charges.

They were remanded on bail and will reappear at a post-committal conference in July.

The charges were laid after the shooting of 33 dogs owned by Rowan Hargreaves on his property near Wellsford, 114km northwest of Auckland.

Mendoza and Campbell face charges of wilful ill-treatment of an animal and alternative charges of ill-treatment of an animal laid by the Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) under the Animal Welfare Act.

The charges, which carry a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment, were laid after the SPCA said seven of the dogs died a slow and painful death after allegedly being shot with a shotgun and a .22 calibre rifle.

They also face charges laid by police of reckless use of a firearm. In addition, Mendoza faces a charge of possession of a firearm without a licence.

The men have indicated they wish to be tried by a jury.

- NZPA