8 August 2017
Media: 8 August 2017
Topic: Dog attack on another dog
Inquiry
I am working on a story about the recent death of a little dog called Squeak who was mauled by two dogs on Friday in Owhata.
The incident happened around the Brent Rd area and when this was posted to Facebook there were a few comments from locals who had run ins with dogs.
- Are the council aware of this incident?
- If yes, is it under investigation? What action is being taken to prevent this recurring?
- How frequently are things like this happening?
- I personally live in Owhata and have on occasion spotted dogs roaming onto my property, what's the number to contact when that happens?
- What should people do if they're out walking their dog and another dog starts behaving aggressively?
Response
Rotorua Lakes Council animal control staff were contacted and two dogs allegedly involved were seized and are being held at the pound while Council investigates
So far this calendar year there have been 118 attacks by dogs on domestic animals (cats, dogs and other family pets).
The figure of 24 which we provided yesterday refers to attacks of this type where the attacking dog or dogs have been identified.
People walking their dogs should ensure they have control of their pet and if another dog becomes aggressive towards them should try to distance themselves and their dog from the aggressor - but not run. If possible get behind a solid object such as a fence, inside your home if you are on your own property or get to your car if it is nearby.
Wandering dogs should be reported to Council immediately (3484199). Where safe to do so, a photograph of the dog and/or a detailed description of the breed and if known, the address from which the dog emerged or is known to live, is useful. This information will help animal control staff to follow up as appropriate.
Dog owners can be fined up to $3000 depending on the offence and severity of the attack.
Quote from Animal Control Supervisor Kevin Coutts:
This really comes down to dog owners. If dogs were on leads or were properly confined on their owners' property, we would have very few dog attacks. There is really no reason for dogs to be wandering.