KEY POINTS:
The attempted drowning and dumping of nine puppies in Gisborne has been labelled "revolting" by SPCA staff.
The half-dead litter was discovered sodden and riddled with fleas in a rubbish bin outside the Gisborne District Court building on Wednesday.
When the SPCA arrived, five were already dead and some of the remaining four were attempting to squeeze their way out of the tied-up plastic bags they had been put in, said SPCA manager and inspector Bernice David-Goodwin.
It is believed the litter was only days old, as the puppies still had their umbilical cords attached.
It is believed they were then immersed in water for some time -- killing half of them -- before they were dumped in the Customhouse Street rubbish bin.
A group of people who went to dispose of rubbish were startled to hear whimpering coming from the bin and called the SPCA.
The surviving four puppies were taken straight to a vet and put down.
"I have seen some pretty ghastly things but this was revolting," said Ms David-Goodwin.
- NZPA
