( CNN ) -- A man who roasted his pet dog to enjoy as a meal with his family and friends escaped prosecution after authorities in New Zealand determined the animal was killed humanely . Auckland SPCA officers found the charred body of a Staffordshire terrier cooking in this barbecue pit . `` We were in a dilemma at seeing something we were fairly upset about -- but being in a position of being able to do absolutely nothing about it , '' said Garth Halliday , of the Auckland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , on Monday . The SPCA -- which investigates acts of animal cruelty and presses charges -- responded to the house in Mangere , south of Auckland . There , officers found the charred body of a Staffordshire terrier cooking in a barbecue pit . Watch why owner made decision » . `` They had had the dog for a while , but the man told us his wife was getting tired of the dog . He was becoming a pest , '' Halliday said . `` They decided to get rid of him . But instead of bringing him to the SPCA -- which we recommend -- they decided to have a meal , and cook and eat him . '' The family is from Tonga where eating a dog is not uncommon , Halliday said . `` He did n't think he was doing anything wrong , '' he said . Is eating dog meat acceptable ? Sound Off below . The incident occurred in February . For the next few months , the SPCA looked into whether the man ought to be charged for the killing . Over the weekend , the organization decided it could n't because the animal had been killed humanely . The man , Halliday said , struck the dog in the head with a hammer , rendering it unconscious . He then slit its throat . `` That is the normal way -- if one can use that word -- that animals are killed all over the world , '' Halliday said . And under New Zealand 's Animal Welfare Act , it is legal to kill an animal if it is slaughtered swiftly and painlessly . Dr Malakai Koloamatangi , a Tongan cultural expert from the University of Canterbury , told CNN affiliate TVNZ that dog meat is a delicacy enjoyed mostly by young men in his homeland . Still , the case infuriated and repulsed many New Zealanders . `` It 's appalling , '' said Gracie Williams of Auckland . `` As an animal lover , I am sickened . The law needs to be changed . '' Auckland Mayor John Banks , an animal rights activist , told reporters that rather than a new law , what is needed is better education of local customs . In the end , the SPCA closed the case without charges . `` We talked to the people . We told them that although it 's not against the law , it is against the general culture of the country to actually kill and eat your own pet dog , '' Halliday said .
Man had roasted his pet dog to enjoy as a meal with his family and friends . Man 's family is from Tonga where eating a dog is not uncommon . New Zealand authorities determine dog killed humanely , do n't prosecute him . Comment: I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the reason why this happened was because of how people treat animals in general.