Council confirmed that on Wednesday and Thursday last week several dogs were taken to the tip where they were shot and then disposed of on the tip face.

The Advocate was made aware of the incident after a resident complained to the paper.

Stratford resident Keith Whittall said he was at the tip between 12.20pm and 2pm last Wednesday when the council ranger arrived at the facility with the dogs on the back of his vehicle.

“He said he was taking the dogs down the back to shoot them,” he said.

“He went down behind the rubbish pile and I heard the shots go off from where I was standing at the shed.

“Then he threw the carcasses into the general waste.”

Mr Whittall said it was a “cruel and inhumane” way to dispose of the animals and said he was particularly upset that the incident had occurred during regular tip operating hours.

“I never want to see something like that happen again,” he said.

“It made me feel physically sick. After I left the tip I went and got my daughter and took some pictures.

“There were 11 dogs in total, five of them were pups.”

Director of Planning and Environment Graham Gardner said council had been responding to a request from a local resident who had asked that the dogs be disposed of.

Mr Gardner said the RSPCA had contacted council.

“On Friday afternoon council was visited by an inspector from the RSPCA who came to interview (the council ranger),” Mr Gardner said.

“The background circumstances to this incident are complex but there will likely be a focus on the action of euthanising and disposal of the dogs.

“We will review the details of this incident and clarify or adjust any operational procedures as necessary arising from this incident.”