A spooked security dog was shot dead at Auckland airport after running around the airfield for three hours early Friday morning, delaying 16 flights, local media reported.
Staff at the airport of New Zealand's biggest city requested that police shoot the dog, Inspector Tracy Phillips said, according to local website Stuff.
Security and airport staff spent several hours attempting to catch Grizz, an aviation security dog, after the dog was first reported to be on the loose about 4 am.
"This is not an outcome which anyone wanted, and police were only asked to be involved as a last resort," Phillips said, according to Stuff.
It was a tragedy for the dog handler and the security service was investigating how the dog, a 10-month-old mix of bearded collie and German short-haired pointer, became free, according to Radio NZ.
The shooting sparked debate online over whether or not Grizz needed to be killed, with many arguing that authorities should have tranquilised the dog instead.
A New Zealand veterinarian, however, said tranquiliser darts and guns might be poorly suited to the situation and weren't regularly stocked at the country's clinics, according to Stuff.
"Even if authorities did manage to get their hands on one in time, there are so many other factors to take into consideration, like how close the animal is, the animal's weight, age, and how much adrenaline was running through the body," said Callum Irvine, head of
veterinary services at the New Zealand Veterinary Association, according to the report.
Flights from the airport resumed at 8 am.
Security and airport staff spent several hours attempting to catch Grizz.
