Two packs of sled dogs in Greenland have died after reportedly being abused for a long period of time, leading several of the animals to starve to death.

State veterinarian Sanne Eline Wennerberg told Sermitsiaq that she and the police had to put down 19 sled dogs in the town of Ilulissat in western Greenland.

Twelve dogs were shot on July 13, while seven others had to be euthanised on Tuesday.

Lifeless on the ground
When police found the starving packs, there were already lifeless dogs scattered on the ground in the sled dog area.

Wennerberg explained that the 19 dogs were shot because they were already dying of hunger.

"The dogs had no fat left on their body or around their organs. Their muscles were thin and all bones were visible," she said.

"It's an unequivocal sign that the dogs were starved over a longer period of time, some of them to death."

Sermitsiaq reports that police have taken over the case.