Chicken-slaying dog's life spared

Gunther, Timaru's chicken-eating schnauzer, has had his life spared – by a whisker.

Gunther may have eaten up to 50 chickens in Timaru last October, burying their carcasses in a paddock.

But the thing that allowed Gunther and kennel-mate Linka to get free, their owner's carelessness, may also have saved Gunther's life. (...)

She said Seeler accepted that the night before the chicken attack he did not secure the dog run.

Lawrence said the incident was an isolated one, and the first attack of any kind.

She said there were exceptional circumstances that could allow the court not to order the dogs' destruction, as sought by the council.

An Ashburton dog owner told the court she was prepared to have the dogs and keep them secure. The judge said Gunther was a much-loved pet and was said to be gentle with people.

He said he was satisfied, as the dog had not burrowed under or jumped a fence, that the circumstances were unusual.

He was satisfied destruction was not warranted, but it was a close call.

Seeler was fined $200 on each of the confinement counts and $500 on the attack count, each with costs of $130. He had also agreed to pay $640 for the chickens and will have to pay more than a $1000 in pound fees. He was also ordered to pay solicitors' costs of $150 on each count. On each count? how much is that? 150 chickens, ...150 counts??