Wanaka police say they are investigating a driving complaint made against a Lakes Environmental animal control officer and that other matters have been referred to the officer's employer.
Constable Greg Nolet confirmed the investigation but would provide no further details.
The Otago Daily Times has been told of an incident involving an animal control officer, a 14-year-old labrador and two Hawea residents on Friday.
One of the residents said he had laid the driving complaint with the police and laid a complaint with Lakes Environmental about the officer's behaviour.
Lakes Environmental chief executive Hamish Dobbie would not confirm an employment matter was being investigated.
Asked why he had no comment, Mr Dobbie said: "Because in an employment situation there is a process that has to be run that is required by the law. It's got to be a fair process. Trial by media is not necessarily a fair process."
ODT inquiries found the officer was not at work yesterday or expected at work today.
