Dog incident an accident

Craig Forster was sick and tired of being burgled so he adopted a dog to protect his property.

He built a six-foot fence around his Mangere home, adopted a pitbull cross and had it registered immediately.

For six years Mr Forster says he had no complaints whatsoever about his dog Coco. But that all changed recently.

Mr Forster left his Manston Rd home about 10am on July 27 to sort out his passport and some other documents to prepare for moving to Australia.

He decided not to take Coco with him because she had two four-week-old puppies so he made sure he securely bolted the gates behind him.

When he arrived home later that afternoon, an Animal Management Services van was parked up the driveway and Coco and her puppies had been detained.

Mr Forster was told that someone had complained about Coco and she had to be removed from the property.

I betcha if the dog was a border collie, noone would have complained. But being the dog which everyone is now left to fear,... well, that draws complaints. Too bad we can't talk to each other like civil members of society rather than having to have a third party involved..

"I was told a lady was walking a dog past the section and my dog came out at her dog," he says.

"But my first question was: 'Who the hell opened my gates'."

Mr Forster says his dog would have been extra protective of the property because she had puppies so that may have led to the alleged attack.

Manukau City Council sent Mr Forster a letter on September 6, telling him it had received a complaint regarding an incident with Coco. Remember the dog had the complaints on July 27th. Why did it take so long ?

On September 25 he was sent another letter saying he was going to be prosecuted under the Dog Control Act for owning a dog that attacked an animal. Then another 2 weeks !! Can't they get their act together?!

He is now waiting to be summonsed to appear in the Manukau District Court.

Mr Forster's daughter-in-law has written to the council telling it she accidently left the gate open after picking up her washing.

"It was an accident the gate was left open," Mr Forster says. "I should not be responsible for someone else's actions. I am a victim of circumstance."

Mr Forster says Coco was generally a well-behaved dog.

"She was a good dog, she'd never bite anyone. I presume my dogs are dead but I can't even find that out." Gee, that's really sad .. no communication ?!

Mr Forster is in the process of selling his home and moving his family to Brisbane where he was born.

Coco was to be adopted by a family member when Mr Forster left New Zealand.

Manukau City Council would not comment on the case since it is before the courts.