MEDIA RELEASE
13 April 2005

Dogs seized after serious attack on woman

A woman suffered serious arm and leg injuries in an attack by two dogs in Owairaka yesterday.

The woman was walking past an Owairaka property at approximately noon yesterday, when a Staffordshire terrier cross and a Rottweiler cross attacked her and pinned her to the ground. The dogs were not confined to the property.

A man who witnessed the attack from across the road struck the dogs with a golf club in an attempt to stop the attack.

Police, ambulance and animal control officers were called to the scene and the victim was taken to hospital. Police used pepper spray to enable animal control officers to restrain the dogs. The dogs also killed a cat at the property.

At least five people involved in either assisting the victim or nearby were also either challenged or bitten by the dogs. Three of these people have identified themselves and animal control officers urge any others who either witnessed or were involved in the attack to call them on (09) 360 0750.

“Attacks such as these are entirely preventable and highlight the need for owners to keep their dogs under control at all times,” says Geoff Atherfold, team leader, compliance monitoring, Auckland City. “With all the publicity over recent years, there is no excuse for dog owners not to be aware of injury dogs can inflict and to not take necessary measures to keep them under control.”

The dogs have been impounded and will remain in custody pending further investigation. An animal control officer is currently taking statements from witnesses.

The dogs have a history of aggressive incidents and the owners have received a number of infringement notices for failing to control the animals. One of the dogs has been classified as menacing, and as such has to be neutered and muzzled in public; the other is in the process of being classified.

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