Linda Hall: No mercy for attack dogs

Dog owners need to take responsibility when their pets attack.

Many years ago, when I lived in Dannevirke, we had a dog. Her name was Mitch and she was a black and tan fox terrier.

She ran around the yard and up and down the footpath beside my children, as they played and rode their bikes. She was quite timid but a little sweetie.

One morning in the school holidays there was loud knocking on the door. It was early and it was raining.

I opened the door to find the dog ranger standing there. He didn't look very happy at all.

He said (and I don't quote here because I can't remember word for word): Do you have a black and tan foxy?

Me: Yes.

Him: Where is it?

Me: Round the back

Him: Can you get it for me please.

Me: Why?

Him: Your dog has been seen worrying sheep at the showgrounds (the showgrounds was just down the road).

Me: Our dog? I don't think so. She wouldn't even be able to reach the sheep. She's tiny.

Him: Your dog was with other bigger dogs. It's often little dogs like your one that start the trouble, going in nipping and chasing the sheep. The bigger dogs do the damage.

Me: But she wouldn't hurt a fly.

Him: Can you get her for me please? If she was involved she'll be covered in mud.

So I went round the back and she was hiding under the house. Not good. I called to her and she came out and yes - she was covered in mud.

Him: I'm sorry but I'm taking your dog with me now. She will have to be destroyed.

I didn't have a say. That was that.

My point? Dogs caught hurting, mauling or killing sheep are "put to sleep" straight away. No questions asked.

In fact, some farmers shoot marauding dogs on sight. So why, oh why, do owners of dogs that attack people get a choice?

Two of the dogs that attacked two women in Whirinaki last week have been put to sleep. However, the owner of the third dog has not surrendered it.

I understand how pets become a huge part of a family. They worm their way into your heart with their cute faces, loyalty and funny antics.

But a dog that has attacked not one, but two, people has no place in our society.

How can the owners ever trust it again?

They can't.

It's tough and, if there are children in the family, explaining it all to them is hard.

When Mitch was taken away, I was really upset. But the first thing I thought about was how was I going to tell my youngest daughter, who was staying at a friend's during the holidays.

To this day, when I think about Mitch, I have an image of her and my daughter sitting on the porch, side by side, their backs to me, she with her arm around the dog.

I told her the truth, she cried on and off for days.

It was her first encounter with death.

I hope the two women who were attacked are doing okay. It must have been terrifying.

I've seen lots of dogs off their leashes in places they shouldn't be. As HDC dog control manager John Payne said, following last week's attack: "We must not forget that within every dog the wild instincts are still there - dormant and modified, but they haven't been eliminated. It is important that dogs are kept under proper control at all times."

How very true.

-Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.