Owner sentenced after pit bull mauled grandmother walking with grandson

A dog owner has been sentenced to four months’ community detention after her pit bull attacked a 74-year-old woman walking home with her grandson, tearing away part of her calf.

The woman needed a skin graft and spent several days in hospital after the attack in Auckland suburb New Windsor about midday on June 21 last year.

The dog, Nala, rushed through an open front gate at a Dickey St property and bit the woman’s right calf.

Nala, a female American pit bull terrier, had been classified as menacing since March 2024.

Its owner, Marieta Toalepai, had previously received infringement notices for failing to keep the animal under control, an Auckland Council spokesperson said.

Toalepai was away when the attack happened but arrived shortly afterwards and helped the victim.

She later voluntarily relinquished ownership of Nala to the council.

The dog has since been euthanised, the spokesperson confirmed.

Sentencing Toalepai in the Auckland District Court yesterday, Judge Simon Lance said previous infringements for Nala roaming should have made the need for greater control obvious.

Given that history, it was not enough to say; “I wasn’t there when it happened”.

The judge considered the offending relatively serious and highlighted the consequences for the victim and her family.

Council general manager of licensing and compliance Robert Irvine described the attack as “serious and entirely avoidable”.

“Every dog owner has a responsibility to ensure their animal is safely contained and under control, and that responsibility is even greater when a dog has been classified as menacing.”

Irvine said owners needed secure gates and fencing, had to comply with restrictions and should never ignore warnings their dog could pose a risk.

The Herald reported last week that attacks on children had increased despite an overall decline in Auckland’s dog attack figures in the last year.

Regulatory and Safety Committee chairwoman Josephine Bartley said the falling figures were encouraging, but the scale of the problem remained significant.

“But behind every attack is a real person, a family and often a long and painful recovery.”

She said the case showed how irresponsible ownership could have life-changing consequences.

“No one should have to fear being attacked while simply walking along their street.”

The Animal Management Annual Report 2025/2026, released last week, reported 246 attacks on children aged 15 and under, up from 228 the previous year – an increase of nearly 8%.

Attacks on adults fell from 1113 to 976.

Overall, there were 2722 attacks recorded, down 5% from 2864 the previous year.

Council figures showed 704 dogs were impounded following attacks and 255 were euthanised under provisions of the Dog Control Act relating to attacks.