8 December 2004

Court orders dogs to be destroyed after February attack

The District Court has sentenced the owner of two rottweilers involved in a February attack on a woman and her dog to pay the council and victim’s costs, totalling $12,425.

This follows an earlier decision made in late November, when the court found the owner guilty of owning two rottweilers which attacked a labrador and its owner on the footpath outside their property.

Following that finding, the court ordered the destruction of the dogs, which had been seized by Auckland City following the attack.

The $12,425 was ordered to be paid to cover the costs associated with housing the dogs since February, the victim’s medical and vet expenses and loss of earnings, and witness expenses and costs.

“The court ruling supports Auckland City’s position on dog control,” says Geoff Atherfold, team leader, compliance monitoring. “It sends a strong message to owners that they must keep their dogs contained and under control within their property to prevent such attacks.”

The attack occurred in the Auckland suburb of St Johns on 24 February 2004, when the two unrestrained rottweilers escaped from the defendant’s damaged driveway gates and attacked a woman and her labrador.

Both the woman and her dog required medical treatment for puncture wounds and bruising.

The defendant was found guilty of two charges of owning a dog that attacked a domestic animal and one charge of owning a dog that attacked a person under section 57(2) of the Dog Control Act 1996.

Under the act, owners must ensure that either their dogs are under the direct control of a person or confined to their property in such a manner that they cannot freely leave the land or premises.

ENDS

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