Ex-top cop dogged by fine

Former top policeman John Dewar has been convicted and fined $300 for owning a dog which attacked another animal. We know now why he's an ex! (smile)

Dewar, 54, of Hamilton, appeared before Judge Robert Spear in Hamilton District Court yesterday to defend the charge.
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In March last year, Mrs Dewar was walking Peanut, a labrador cross, near the Rosebank and Woodcock Rds intersection in Tamahere, when it ran up to another dog and attacked it.

The Incident: The other dog's owner, Colette Hanrahan, became emotional as she told Judge Spear she thought her dog, a Border Collie named Tess, would be killed by Peanut. "She (Tess) couldn't do anything. She was pinned by this dog. It's mouth was all over her," Mrs Hanrahan said. Mrs Dewar said the fighting dogs scared her. The women separated the dogs and Mrs Hanrahan took Tess to the vet. On the way home she stopped at Dewars' house and handed over the $90 bill. Now that is cheap. When my dog was attacked the other dog owner paid $240~ . Thank God he wasn't an ex-policeman!

Originally Mrs Dewar said she would pay it, but after discussion with her family offered to pay half believing both parties were at fault because neither dog was on a leash at the time.

"This matter has made its way to a hearing before a judge because of the rather obstinate head-in-the-sand attitude undertaken in respect of what I consider to be the sensible and reasonable claim by Mrs Hanrahan for payment of the vet's bill of $90," Judge Spear said. He decided not to order that Peanut be destroyed because the attack happened in a "rural residential extension of Hamilton". Oh, that's a bit much to even think of putting it down!!

Waikato District Council have issued the Dewars with a notice requiring Peanut to be on a leash or muzzled in public. Well, which is it? there's a difference between both! A disputes tribunal hearing is to be held to determine if Dewar should contribute to vet fees for other injuries suffered by Tess which Mrs Hanrahan believes were caused by Peanut. Gee, another long process !! why doesn't the x-cop just accept that his dog ain't perfect, and that he has to take responsibility for HIS (that is, the x-cop) lack of training for his dog!