Bomb Detector Trainee Puppy Shot And Killed By Police At Auckland Airport After Escaping Handler
Bomb Detector Trainee Puppy Shot And Killed By Police At Auckland Airport After Escaping Handler
Grizz, a puppy who was being trained to serve as a bomb detector dog at the airport in Auckland, New Zealand, was shot by police after the dog escaped the care of its handler and delayed numerous flights. The incident happened on Friday in Auckland and has led to outrage by animal rights activist that say the animal should not have been shot dead, but rather should have been tranquilized.
According to CNN:
Ten-month-old bearded collie cross Grizz was training to be an Aviation Security explosion detector when he escaped handlers who spent hours trying to coax him away from the runway.Sixteen flights were delayed before airport staff told police to shoot him — Grizz was just six months from graduation.SAFE for Animals Ambassador Hans Kriek condemned the killing, asking why the animal wasn’t tranquilized, but a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said he “didn’t believe” that had been an option.
Unfortunately still delays @AKL_Airport due to dog on our airfield updates to follow
— Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) March 16, 2017
The airport than incorrectly stated that the dog was captured, which it then corrected by saying that the animal had been shot and killed:
Update dog that was on the airfield at AKL_Airport has now been caught
— Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) March 16, 2017
Unfortunately an Aviation Security dog was shot this morn @AKL_Airport staff had tried for 3 hours to catch it our thoughts are with handler
— Auckland Airport (@AKL_Airport) March 16, 2017
So, it was a very sad day at Auckland Airport and the incident is quite saddening. I found the statement by the CAA spokesman to be the most astounding: “We tried everything, food, toys, other dogs, but nothing would work … In these difficult circumstances the Airport’s Emergency Operations Center team decided to have the dog destroyed.” I get that safety is of upmost importance, but referring to the dog as being “destroyed” seems a bit heartless. The story is overall sad!
