Dog law lacks bite

Community leaders feel hamstrung by the law when dealing with problem dogs and their owners.

Papakura District Council last week considered two separate dog attacks, one on a social worker visiting a property and the other on a two-year-old girl playing in her backyard.

In the first case, a staffordshire bull terrier bit a Child Youth and Family social worker on the leg as he was leaving a Takanini home in October. Why are staffies always seem to be in the news??

The man suffered puncture wounds to his right calf muscle and needed medical care.

The seven-year-old dog that bit him has a long history of offending. It was caught wandering seven times in 2005 and three times last year. It was involved in a fight with another dog in July 2005 and also rushed at a person that month.

Deputy mayor Katrina Piggott told last week's meeting the dog should be put down. Hum.. so all it did was wander?? that's not really an offense. Being caught 7 times means that this dog is not too smart :) Who initiated the fight? If it was him, then there is a history of violence.

Not sure what 'rushing to a person' means because any dog can be considered doing that... Although I tend to over look some of the cases, and give it 'reasonable doubt' because I know that dogs aren't given a fair go... however, my dog just got mauled by two wandering dogs: one an american pitbull, and the other a staffie. So I am not too happy with staffies at the moment... nor is my dog. He kept his own, however he's on his 11th year, and won't be able to defend himself all his life..

"I was badly bitten by a rottweiler on Christmas Eve and that mongrel was dead within 24 hours. Gee, that social worker got bitten in December too!! Guess we know what clientele he's seeing.

"If it was up to me this animal would be dead within 24 hours."

Drury councillor Peter Goldsmith said it was likely the dog would attack again and it should be put down as soon as possible. I agree, but there are laws in place. Once they get the taste of human blood, that's it!

But regulatory services director Graeme McCarrison said the only option open to councillors under the regulations was to classify the animal as a menacing dog, requiring its owners to muzzle it in public and have it de-sexed and microchipped.

Hefty fines apply if an owner does not comply with regulations.

A council report says the dog has been de-sexed since the incident and should be less aggressive. That is a MYTH. The dog is seven. Too old for anything like that to calm him...

When questioned by councillors worried the council should be doing more, Mr McCarrison said classifying the animal as a menacing dog was the legally appropriate process.

"You're incorrect in assuming the dog control officers have not put pressure on the owners to have the dog put down but it is their right not to do it.

"If there is another offence, even if it is a minor one, we will be coming back to have the owner classified ." You will be sure that the dog opund guy will be keeping a close eye on the dog..

Councils can require probationary dog owners to take part in a dog owner education programme or a dog obedience course. Why doesn't this happen BEFORE owners get their first dog?

Probationary owners can also be disqualified from owning a dog for 24 months, although this does not apply to previously registered dogs.

Councillors also classified the staffordshire bull terrier who attacked a two-year-old girl in Rosehill in October as a menacing dog, despite some questioning the effectiveness of the move.

The three-year-old de-sexed female dog stuck its head through a hole in the fence and bit the girl's right arm as she ran past. She fell to the ground and the dog repeatedly bit her hand until her father kicked the fence and the dog let go. How awful!! Socialising dogs is SO important. There is a dog near where I live who live beside a corridor to the park. The fence is wooden and rotting, and you can see holes and patch up places on the fence. Every time we walk down that footpath, the dog marks, and tries to put his nose in the fence holes.

It is actually scary going down that path... my dog cocks his leg up to the fence and does his marking... I get my revenge knowing that my dog has marked our territory :)

The toddler was taken to an accident and emergency clinic for treatment. She suffered puncture wounds and cuts to her right hand.

The dog has no previous history of offending. He does now!

Drury councillor Peter Jones said requiring the dog to be muzzled in public would not make a difference and was a waste of time. The dog was already de-sexed and a microchip would not stop it biting. Correct... just confirmed what I said above.

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