with police

Cook Islands

Witnesses angry

WITNESSES in the Cook Islands capital Rarotonga to police shooting of stray dogs in public have expressed dismay at such incidents and have expressed a hope that officers involved are

penalised.

The public sentiment was expressed after an incident in which police officers shot at two dogs in the business area of Avarua town. One of them was injured by gunfire, but both managed to run away as police carried out the shooting in front of witnesses who described the event as “sickening”. Witnesses said the use of guns in public is dangerous and officers involved should be reprimanded. Cook Islands News reports the incident follows a series of shootings last month in a police drive to reduce the number of stray dogs.