Invercargill Council will stop using the controversial captive bolt gun to euthanise dogs while it consults the community about its practices around rehoming and euthanising ill-tempered canines.
The council has come under fire for using a captive bolt gun to euthanise dogs after footage emerged two weeks ago of a dog being shot in the head with the gun by a council animal control officer.
The council voted today to only use the lethal injection to put dogs down while it sets up a community engagement panel. A lethal injection requires the animals being taken to the vet rather than it being carried out on site.
Deputy mayor Rebecca Amunsden said there was a "firm and loud" public response to the video showing a dog being put down by a captive bolt gun, but wanted the council to consider all points of view from the community before the council made a definitive decision.
The panel will be made up of community representatives and will look at expert advice before making a recommendation to the council around the favoured method of euthanising dogs and the best process for rehoming suitable dogs.
