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Grizz the dog shot dead at Auckland Airport after running loose on tarmac

Auckland Airport officials say they had no option but to ask police to fatally shoot a dog on Friday morning after he ran from his handler and on to the tarmac.

The runaway airport service dog, called Grizz, was shot dead after he delayed more than a dozen flights.

The airport earlier said the dog had been caught but later confirmed he had been fatally shot.

Airport spokeswoman Lisa Mulitalo said Grizz was only killed as a last resort.

"They did everything they could, but unfortunately the dog had to be shot," she said.

"We're really upset about it."

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Ms Mulitalo said Grizz had escaped from the aviation security team.

Aviation security spokesman Mike Richards said Grizz had been on the loose for around three hours.

"At around 4.30am an Avsec security detector dog was spooked and got away from his handler," he said.

"The emergency operations centre was activated and a search was commenced."

Mr Richards said 16 flights were delayed, as pilots would not risk passenger safety with a dog on the loose.

Members of the public questioned why Grizz wasn't knocked out with tranquilisers.

New Zealand TV host Hilary Barry asked: "Do they not have a tranquiliser gun? I don't care if your plane is delayed. You don't need to shoot the dog".

Renèe Scott posted on the Stuff Facebook page: "Surely the more humane thing if desperate would be to maybe tranquillise if really and truly necessary."

Another reader, Fran Calverley agreed: "Why couldn't they shoot it with a knockout drug?"

Inspector Tracy Phillips said airport staff eventually asked police to shoot Grizz around 7.30am.

"This followed considerable efforts over several hours by Avsec and airport staff to contain the dog," she said.

"This is not an outcome which anyone wanted, and police were only asked to be involved as a last resort."

Mr Richards said those involved understood why Grizz had to be killed.

"The handler and Avsec are naturally upset but do understand there were no other options, in the very difficult circumstances," he said.

Andrea Midgen, the acting national chief executive for the SPCA, said the airport would only have shot Grizz as a last resort.

"I would say it's one of those unfortunate accidents," she said.

"They put a huge investment in those dogs to do the job they do, and they treat them as part of the family."

Ms Midgen said her thoughts were with aviation security staff as they had lost an important team member.

"It would have been the hardest decision they've had to make."

Mr Richards said the focus in coming days would be on understanding what had gone wrong.

"Avsec will undertake a review of the incident to try and ascertain what spooked the dog, and if this has any implications for ongoing training," he said.

Aviation Security Service (Avsec) dogs

Avsec's explosive detector dogs (EDD) have different jobs than the customs and MPI pups, tasked with sniffing out explosives rather than drugs or food.

Each EDD has a human partner, or handler, and they work together to ensure no dangerous materials are present in our airports or on aircraft. They're based in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.

The job requirements for an EDD are to be happy, confident, sociable, non-aggressive and love playing with toys. Avsec doesn't discriminate by breed.

Dog teams undergo 10 weeks of training before graduating from the Police Dog Training Centre as operational.

The dogs' presence in airports can deter potential explosive-layers and they also conduct random searches around the airport, such as at check-in counters, screening points and gate lounges.

They also back up police and customs and corrections teams when there are bomb threats.

Mobile and quick, the dog teams are considered the most reliable and cost-effective way of detecting explosives.

Stuff.co.nz

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