11.45am
The dog that ripped off half the face of a seven-year-old Auckland girl last week was destroyed this morning.
Police yesterday delayed the court-ordered destruction of Joey, a cross-bred described by its owners as an American staffordshire terrier, after the Sunday Star Times newspaper indicated it might take legal action, apparently in a bid to secure its photograph.
A police spokesman confirmed that Joey and a second dog that lived on the same premises were both put down at 9am today.
Seven-year-old Carolina Anderson faces months of surgery after the dog attacked her at Cox's Bay Reserve in the Auckland suburb of Westmere a week ago.
Thomas Henry Owen, 55, and Brian Clarke Hill, 44, appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to a joint charge under the Dog Control Act of owning a dog, Joey, that caused serious injury to Carolina.
The court ordered Joe and another dog also owned by the two men to be destroyed.
The two men, who will be sentenced on March 12, could be sent to prison for up to three months or fined up to $5000 or both.
They were remanded on bail until that date.
Caroline's father John Anderson has started a campaign to change dog control laws.
Animal control services manager Ken Muir said staff had to be careful how they handled Joey but the dogs gave no trouble as they were put down.
He said the dogs were cross-bred and were not American staffordshire terriers as the owners claimed.
- NZPA
Herald feature: When dogs attack
How you can help
A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.
The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.
