Dog put down after attack on toddler

The owners of a dog that attacked a two-year-old girl yesterday are not taking any chances and have had the dog destroyed.

The toddler was bitten on the face by a labrador-border collie cross, which had to be pulled off the girl by a relation.

Christchurch police and council dog control were called to a house on Wainoni Road about 11.45am yesterday, and the dog, Coco, was taken away to be destroyed at the owner's request.

Coco's owner, Catherine Bills, said the toddler was her great-niece.

"I was at the other end of the house with a vacuum going, so it was lucky my daughter was there."

Bills' daughter pulled Coco off, and the dog turned and tried to bite her, she said.

"It all happened so fast but as far as we know it was unprovoked," Bills said.

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Unprovoked?... one would never know unless someone was actually there with the toddler, which is what is advocated.

Apparently they had the dog for 8 years with loads of children around.

Perhaps the dog had an undiagnosed illness .. could have been a medical issue. But we'll never really know. Too bad we just can't ask the dog what happened !

Does the owner get fined?