Dangerous dogs face bullet

Menacing dogs found roaming uncontrolled on Far North roads and public areas are to be shot immediately if animal control officers believe they're too dangerous to impound.

The destruction order aimed at straying and dangerous dogs has been issued by the Far North District Council whose animal control officers have been told to adopt a "gloves off" approach.

The hard line instruction follows serious dog attacks on four people in the Kaikohe area in recent months.

Three victims, including a 9-year-old boy, required hospital treatment for wounds inflicted by unregistered pitbull-cross dogs.

"It has to stop. If we have to destroy dogs to protect the community from attacks, then that is what will happen," council spokesman Patrick Schofield said.

In the latest attack last weekend, a woman was admitted to Whangarei Hospital with a broken arm and multiple puncture wounds after an attack by an unregistered pitbull-cross as she walked to work early on Saturday in Kaikohe.

The dog was destroyed at the scene and police investigations are continuing while animal control staff try to identify the owner of the dog.

Mr Schofield said the council was "sick and tired" of incidents involving dangerous dogs.