MEDIA RELEASE
21 January 2004

Probationary classification upheld

Auckland City Council Regulatory and Fixtures Subcommittee today (21 January 2004) upheld Mr Brian Hill’s classification under section 22 of the Dog Control Act 1996 as a probationary dog owner.

Yesterday the subcommittee heard objections from Mr Hill on his classification. The decision to classify Mr Hill was made by the Auckland City Animal Control Subcommittee following a conviction under section 58(a) of the Act for which he was sentenced to two months imprisonment for owning the dog that seriously injured Carolina Anderson in an attack at Cox’s Bay Reserve in January 2003.

Reasons the probationary classification was upheld include:
- the serious nature of the offence in respect of which the classification was made
- Mr Hill was not considered to be a competent dog owner and did not show the subcommittee that he was likely to take any specific action to prevent further offences if in control of another dog
- Mr Hill did not appear to be concerned with addressing the local community’s issues regarding dog ownership and appears to have replaced the offending dog with another of the same or similar breed
- Mr Hill has not attended a dog education programme since the 31 January 2003 attack.

Councillor Juliet Yates, chairperson of the Regulatory and Fixtures Subcommittee says, “Mr Hill has been advised that the dog he is currently looking after, that is registered to his mother, of Whangarei, is required to live at the address provided in the registration application. He has 14 days to dispose of the dog that is now living with him.”

Ends

Ref: BH

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