Animal welfare inspectors and police are investigating a string of horrific attacks on animals which have been mutilated and their corpses dumped at owners' homes in South Auckland.
There have been at least three attacks in Karaka and Papakura in just over a week.
A fox terrier was skinned and had a paw and ears removed and rabbits were decapitated and maimed in other ways.
Auckland SPCA executive director Bob Kerridge says such horrendous abuse is rare, and the attacks are very likely to be connected.
He says because there is a strong link between animal abuse and human abuse, he's worried the person or people involved could go on the hurt an adult, or children.
Mr Kerridge says at this stage there is very little evidence to go on, and investigators are looking for further information on the attacks.
A group that works to reduce animal abuse and cruelty, Paw Justice, is offering a $1000 reward for information that leads to the capture and conviction of the person responsible for the fox terrier's death.
