By Sammy Carter of RNZ
Content Warning: This article includes graphic images
A woman’s labrador was mauled by three dogs while out with a dog walker in Palmerston North, requiring surgery.
Palmerston North City Council is now considering enforcement options.
Local Judith Anne Swainson was on her weekly walk through Arapuke Park last Monday with dog Levi, when multiple dogs came around a bend.
“I’ve never been in such a horrifying situation,” she said.
The dogs were “lashing out” and biting Levi’s neck, legs and ears, she said, while the lab was on his back trying to defend himself.
Swainson grabbed a dog by the collar and tried to pull it off Levi, she said.
“I just wanted to get Levi away from the dogs, I did not think about anything else.”
The person walking the group of dogs attacking Levi came around the corner and ran over to help break up the fight.
While the lab recovered quickly after escaping, Swainson noticed his neck bleeding from a large gash.
In the stress of it all, both parties took their dogs separate ways and didn’t exchange information.
However, after the experience was shared on social media, the dog walker reached out to apologise, Swainson said.
Levi has had two surgeries since the attack, mainly to stitch up the neck wound left behind, costing about $2000.
The council’s manager of environmental protection services, Caleb Johnson, said three dogs were involved in the fight, and more were present.
He said two of the three dogs involved were not registered at the time of the incident.
Animal management officers had spoken with the dog walker, who they said fully co-operated with the investigation.
The council was considering appropriate enforcement under the Dog Control Act, Johnson said.
This could include classifying the dogs as menacing, Johnson said, issuing infringement fines, and pursuing other enforcement options such as prosecution.
Johnson said if anyone was confronted by an aggressive dog, they should stop, stand and leave.
He said dog attacks in Palmerston North should be reported to the council.
- RNZ
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