A rottweiler that mauled a three-year-old Westport girl yesterday has been destroyed.

The toddler is in a stable condition after surgery at Christchurch Hospital last night for facial injuries.

Westport police constable Sean Judd said the girl and her mother were visiting family friends and the toddler was playing with the dog when it bit her on the forehead. MORE>>

Another unsocialised dog... owners too afraid to socialise because of what 'others' think about this breed of dog. So sad. (after reading the article the next day,... well, we'll never know why the dog attacked especially when no one SAW the attack ! why not??)

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Dog owners will not be prosecuted for attack

February 14, 2007

Authorities say there are no grounds to prosecute the owners of a rottweiler dog that attacked a toddler who needed surgery for serious facial injuries.
(...)

The toddler was visiting a Westport house with her mother when the attack occurred on Monday morning. (...)

It is understood the girl was playing with the dog when it suddenly attacked and bit her face.
The child's parents, at her bedside yesterday, did not want to comment on the attack.

Council spokeswoman Lisa Hankey said the council was not planning to prosecute the dog owners, because the adult rottweiler was registered and inside a private property.

This would not change unless the parents of the child "wished to add anything".There had been no previous complaints about the dog.

Obviously, the dog owners are friends with the little girl and her family. Why would the family want to add anything.

The dog died in vain... defending itself from a kid pocking its nose or whatever, and irresponsible parents not supervising their child with a dog!