KEY POINTS:
A kennel manager who faked the death of a corgi had his claim that he was unjustifiably dismissed upheld by the Employment Relations Authority.
But the authority said Peter Stott was not entitled to compensation after it was revealed he had faked the dog's death.
Mr Stott was fired by Redvale Canine Centre, on the Hibiscus Coast north of Auckland, in June 2006.
A month earlier a corgi had been set for adoption by the Humane Society. On the morning the dog was scheduled for its pre-adoption vet check Mr Stott took the corgi off the checklist because he hadn't finished the paperwork.
He then rang Animal Control Services and told them the dog had been destroyed for failing the check-up.
He told a female employee she could have the dog as it had no paperwork and she was to put it in the centre's kennels where management wouldn't find it.
The authority said it was not clear Mr Stott had stolen the dog, which hadn't left the grounds, so he could not be sacked for this.
However, because he had faked the corgi's demise and had continued the lie when questioned, the authority found his own actions had led to the dismissal and "as a matter of equity and good conscience" he was not entitled to a payout.
- NZPA
