Susie Smith wants answers after she was set upon by two aggressive dogs in the village. Photo / File
Susie Smith wants answers after she was set upon by two aggressive dogs in the village. Photo / File
Warning: Graphic image
An Otane woman bitten in a dog attack is urging any other residents who have been menaced or rushed by dogs to report the incidents to animal control.
Susie Smith, 70, a keen surfer who has enjoyed the outdoors all her life, says she is now too scared to walk or ride down certain streets in Otane because of problems with aggressive and unrestrained dogs, including a February 22 attack when she was bitten on the leg.
Mrs Smith was on a morning walk when two small dogs rushed out from a property where a fence had been taken down.
She initially thought they were coming to greet her, before one dog darted around behind her and bit her on the leg through her jeans, wounding her lower left leg.
Otane woman Susie Smith's wounds from a dog attack had only just healed when she says she was confronted by two other aggressive and unrestrained dogs in the village.
She reported the incident to CHB District Council's animal control unit which she said resulted in a woman being issued with an infringement notice and fined.
Her wound had only just healed when on April 28 in another incident she was circled by two aggressive dogs. She fended them off with a stick, which she began carrying for safety after the first attack.
She reported that incident but regrets not reporting another when two Labradors rushed out at her from a property while she was riding her bike.
Her husband was also rushed at by a dog while standing in the driveway of the couple's home, and on another occasion he had "squared off" with another aggressive dog but he was armed with a rake.
Her neighbours were also wary of walking down particular streets and Mrs Smith urged residents to report any menacing, threatening or aggressive dogs to the council.
She felt the threat of enforcement action and a fine was the only way to ensure owners acted responsibly and kept their dogs under control.
"These dogs could serious inflict damage, even the death of a child, if they were to escape," she said.
"Animal Control does an excellent job but I believe the problem is that many people do not report incidents believing, possibly, that they are the only ones affected by this growing problem," she said.
CHB animal control officer David Stiles said any dog attack or incident where a dog displayed intimidating behaviour should be reported for investigation. He said a warning was issued for minor offences, while infringement notices were issued for more serious incidents.
Dogs that attacked people or stock could be classified as menacing or dangerous, impounded by council and could be potentially destroyed, depending on the outcome of an investigation. Owners could also face prosecution, but there had been no prosecutions in at least the past four years.
He said there were 27 American pit bull terriers registered in CHB, but none from the other four breeds automatically deemed as dangerous by the New Zealand Government.
Infringement notices issued by CHBDC for failure to keep a dog under control, by year: 2013: 18; 2014: 9; 2015: 5; 2016: 6; 2017: 9.