Dog attacks prompt urgent law review

A dog control officer was attacked by dogs yesterday and was rescued only when a police officer pulled a gun and shot it.

The Dargaville man was the latest victim in a spate of dog attacks in the past few days which have triggered an urgent review of dog laws.

In Porirua, Fred Humphreys, 52, was mauled by a boxer-cross when he visited a house in the city yesterday. He suffered serious bites to his groin and arms and had surgery at Hutt Hospital, where plastic surgeons last night called for tougher laws on dogs.

Consultant plastic surgeon Craig MacKinnon, who operated on Mr Humphreys for 2 1/2 hours, said: "Something needs to be looked at - the problem is people won't own up that it was their dog or can't see that their dog is a virtual killing weapon."

The Dargaville victim spoke of his experience from hospital, telling One News:

"One of the new policemen in Dargaville took evasive action, pulled his revolver and shot the dog that was hanging on to my arm."

The man was attacked while at a house investigating reports of another dog mauling.

Seven-year-old Carolina Anderson had half her face ripped off down to the bone by a dog, possibly a rottweiler, in Westmere last Friday, and yesterday, a 4 1/2-year-old Christchurch girl had the end of her nose bitten off by a jack russell terrier.

Prime Minister Helen Clark condemned the attacks. "I am appalled at those dogs being in a position to rip children and adults apart."

Local Government Minister Chris Carter said it was not clear how similar tragedies could be prevented but that he had written to all local body mayors asking their help in identifying changes to the Dog Control Act which may be needed. The act provided extensive powers to regulate dog ownership and to deal with dangerous dogs in particular.

"It is too early to say whether there is a problem with the legislation or whether the issue is one of policing and resources," he said.

Mr Carter also planned to write to organisations such as the Veterinarians' Association and the Kennel Club to get their views.

As well, he would support Labour MP Steve Chadwick's member's bill - which would give dog control officers the power to seize dogs on private property - being made a Government bill so it could be heard urgently.

"It is simply unacceptable that young children are unable to enjoy the public amenities of a large metropolitan city like Auckland without fear of dog attack," Mr Carter said.

National MP Paul Hutchison said the act should be urgently amended to give greater powers to dog control officers and to increase penalties. He also wants the importation of dangerous dogs, their semen and embryos banned.

Local Government New Zealand chief executive Peter Winder said local authorities would welcome amendments to dog control laws to give dog control officers more powers and to strengthen existing dog registration processes.

"At the moment, dog control officers cannot seize a dog for rushing or threatening behaviour and can only seize a dog on public property or 'at large', ruling out a seizure on private property," Mr Winder said.

"Dog control officers are also unable to seize or retain a dog where an officer, on reasonable grounds, believes that the dog will cause harm, or the owner will allow it to offend again."

Mr Winder, Local Government NZ president Basil Morrison and Mr Carter will meet to discuss the issue this week.

- NZPA