An animal rights group accused of internet vigilantism says comments posted on its forum reflect frustration about soft penalties for animal cruelty.
Paw Justice has been criticised for posts on its page on the social networking site Facebook that threaten violence against people who harm animals.
Referring to an animal cruelty case earlier this year, one comment reads: "If I ever see that guy that killed those kittens I will skin him alive, then feed his flesh to my dog."
The group's founder, Craig Dunn, admits some comments about that case were extreme and says they have now been removed.
"A few people just ruined it for others, but you can understand that people do get frustrated with the law in New Zealand, because it's not harsh enough."
MP 'de-friends'
National Party MP Simon Bridges introduced a members' bill to increase penalties for animal cruelty.
Mr Bridges says he was a fan of the Facebook page, but has now left the group.
"The reason I did de-friend them was because it did seem to me there was too much eye-for-an-eye taking the law into your own hands approach there in terms of the comments that were being left by people."
Mr Bridges doubts that was the original intention of the group, but says other members did not make an effort to moderate the extreme comments.
SPCA still behind group
The SPCA is vouching to continue working with the group, to campaign for harsher penalties for animal abusers.
SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger says Paw Justice did not add the comments, nor does it condone violence.
Ms Kippenberger says even though the page is moderated, it is difficult to be on top of what being written all of the time.
She says its unfair that vengeful people have written inflammatory comments on the page.
