Richard Moore: Tough on vicious dogs

Dave McLennan's dog was attacked and killed by another dog on Granada St, Mount Maunganui, on Friday.

Imagine the horror of being involved in a dog attack where some savage brute is trying to kill you, a loved one or your beloved pet?

It has happened to me on one occasion living overseas where a neighbour's two large dogs mauled one of our cats to death.

I heard the commotion coming from over our separating fence, grabbed an axe handle and jumped over - but it was way too late. Our poor one-eyed pet was dead.

The dogs had fled out of sight - luckily for them - but when my blood cooled I reasoned my cat had gone into their territory and had been caught. There was nothing I could complain about.

It is a very different story for people who are attacked by dogs - particularly large beasts - while in public places such as a suburban street.

Attacks happen regularly, far too regularly in my opinion, with a 30 per cent rise in the past five years.

In 2010 there were 897 dog bites a figure that is now 1068.

The most recent assault by a dog was last week when Dave McLennan, 73, was walking with his wife Margaret and much-loved pet DJ along Grenada St in the Mount.

A fierce animal, described as a bull terrier, attacked DJ - a small bichon - and reportedly tried to tear the little fellow apart.

Dave fought with the beast for 10 minutes to get DJ out of its mouth but it wouldn't let go. Dave received bites to his hands and severed tendons in his right hand during the fight.

He managed to free DJ and pull the bull terrier away so Margaret, 80, could escape with their pet.

But Dave said the dog was too strong and got away from him, chasing his wife before tearing DJ out of her arms. He got DJ back several times, but the poor pet had been further mauled.

Luckily a woman stopped her car and Margaret was able to get into it with DJ, saving him from the snapping jaws.

The dog was finally caught and tied up by a brave neighbour.

It was microchipped and the authorities are to speak with the owners.

I'm hoping the beast gets the needle as the last thing we need on our streets is another dangerous, in fact killer, dog.

Too strong, you think?

Not when you learn DJ was taken to a vet but had to be put down due to the horrendous injuries he had received.

The incident was an extraordinarily nasty one and one that will continue to happen while these dogs manage to find ways out of their properties.

I've said before dangerous dogs should not be allowed in city areas because they pose very high risks to people and pets.

As I am writing this I am waving to bull terrier, pit bull and the owners of other dangerous dogs who will no doubt be slavering at the bit to shout down any criticism of their precious beasts.

After a previous attack I wrote about what I thought should happen to such dogs - destroy them all - and what I thought of their owners - which is not a lot.

I received very indignant emails from the United States from dangerous dog associations howling at my comments.

It is my opinion dangerous dogs should not be in suburban areas.

It is my opinion dogs that attack people or pets should be put down.

It is my opinion owners of dangerous dogs involved in such attacks should be dealt with severely.

In cases where people die as a result of dog attacks the owners should be charged with manslaughter and dealt with as accused killers by the courts.

If you want potential killer dogs around you then that is fine by me as long as you live in the country and 100 per cent guarantee they cannot get to unsuspecting members of the public.

My patience is at an end with utterly selfish people who think their ownership of potentially deadly weapons is a right.

-Richard@richardmoore.com

Richard Moore is an award-winning Western Bay journalist and photographer.