Animal welfare groups are outraged over photos appearing to show one of the country's top greyhound trainers using small animals to train his racing dogs.
The SPCA has launched an investigation into allegations that live baits were used to train greyhounds on property in Palmerston North, where trainer Brendon Cole works.
But Racing Minister Winston Peters says we shouldn't "rush to judgement" on the case.
SPCA Auckland CEO Andrea Midgen says it started making enquiries back in July, after the organisation received upsetting material.
"We got delivered some material back in July this year, which was some fairly graphic photographs," she told Newshub. "We've been investigating since then."
The photos look "pretty bad", she says. Most disturbingly, one of the photos shows what could be a small dog according to the SPCA.
"It kind of looks like it, but they're investigating."
"Certainly [it's] something we'll be looking into, because it's a white fluffy something," she told Newshub.
One of the men seen in the photos is Brendon Cole, who trains dozens of dogs, alongside his partner. There are claims Mr Cole has been live-baiting for years.
Ms Midgen says these aren't the first rumours of live-baiting in the greyhound industry. The SPCA is now trying to establish what’s seen in the photos, and whether the alleged baits are dead or alive.
"There have been comments and questions put to us before," she says. "Unfortunately, we've never had substantial evidence on which to base a full investigation.
"In this case, we do."
Ms Midgen says that if animals have been used as bait, that's against the law.
"It's breaking the Animal Welfare Act and so we will do all we can to investigate it, the way we do with all our cases, and make sure we get the right outcome."
The property where the baiting is alleged to occur is now being treated like a "crime scene".
One of the Mr Cole's employees, who asked to remain anonymous, says in the two years he worked at Mr Cole's property, live-baiting was part of an entrenched training regime and he saw chickens being killed weekly.
Ms Midgen is appealing for more people to come forward and aid in the investigation.
"I just think it's really important, if anyone does have any information that's related to this case, that they get hold of us and pass that on, so we can investigate," she says.
"From the SPCA point of view, we absolutely rely on the public to let us know when things are not right."
Mr Peters says he'll wait until the SPCA has concluded its investigation, before taking action.
"The matter's being properly investigated," he told Newshub. "As to whether the bait was live and whether there are ramifications arising from that, I'm told from what you could see on TV, you could not tell whether the bait was live or not.
"We'll just have to wait and find what the SPCA finds out."
Under the rules, training using animals - regardless of whether they’re dead or alive - is forbidden.
Newshub has tried repeatedly to contact Brendon Cole, who has not returned phone calls and messages.
If you have further information, contact the SPCA confidentially
on (09) 256 7300 or Michael Morrah (michaelmorrah@mediaworks.co.nz).
Newshub.
