Bulldog bites boy on face

By GREGG WYCHERLEY

A 9-year-old boy is recovering after being bitten on the face by a bulldog in Ngaruawahia.

The boy was discharged from hospital yesterday after being savaged while walking with a friend on Monday afternoon.

Waikato District Council animal control team leader Stephen Layton said the british bulldog was confiscated yesterday afternoon and the council would seek a court order for its destruction.

The dog's owner was taking legal advice, he said, and was likely to face prosecution.

"The 9-year-old victim and his cousin were walking home from probably just hanging out in the park.

"We don't know whether he bent down to pick it up or what actually occurred immediately prior to the attack."

Mr Layton said the owner could be charged with owning a dog that attacked a person causing serious harm, carrying a three-month prison sentence and $5000 fine.

"The owners are devastated, quite obviously deeply concerned, and we give them credit for that.

"This just looks like a classic case where people believe their dogs are perfectly sociable and then in a moment of inadvertence they are at large and a tragedy occurs."

Maximum penalties for offences under the Dog Control Act will increase under proposed legislation to three years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.

Mr Layton said obtaining a court order to have dangerous dogs destroyed was a lengthy, costly process.

The public outcry over dog attacks had prompted the council to be even more vigilant.

He believed the new laws should focus on owners rather than targeting particular breeds of dog.

"If everybody sees it as such a serious matter that certainly isn't reflected in the fines imposed.

"All dogs have the potential to cause nuisance and harm, so the basic rules need to be adhered to at all times."