Attack dog returned to owner

Bruno with the injured shoulder blade after he was attacked during a walk.

An Auckland man whose dachshund was attacked and seriously injured by an American bulldog at Cable Bay earlier this year is furious the Far North District Council decided not to lay charges.

Greg Fisher was holidaying at Cable Bay on Easter Saturday when two-year-old Bruno was attacked by the bulldog, which ran out on to the road from an unfenced property. The dachshund suffered a crushed shoulder blade, while the council seized the bulldog.

Mr Fisher's lawyer, Baden Meyer, said the offending dog's owner, who lived next door to the Fishers' holiday home, had to punch and kick it to release its hold on Bruno.

Bruno recovering from his injuries after he was attacked by an American bulldog on a road in Cable Bay.

The owner had apologised to Mr Fisher's mother-in-law, who had been walking Bruno, and said he would pay all vet bills.

On May 18 Mr Fisher was told by council dog ranger Mark King that the bulldog would be returned to its owner.

The following day he was told by council lawyer George Swanepoel that an independent panel of three people had assessed the incident, and it had been decided the attack did not warrant a prosecution.

After spending nearly $2000 in vet bills and other expenses, and another $2000 in legal fees, he could not afford a private prosecution. He had received $1030 from the bulldog's owner towards vet bills. Other expenses, such as physiotherapy and time off work, had not been recompensed.

Council compliance manager Darren Edwards said the bulldog owner had been issued with a $200 infringement notice and a dog control notice.