Dog no danger says owner, but victim's dad disagrees

Tai Marsden and Tama. Photo / Geoff Sloan

The owner of a dog that bit a Christchurch girl's face, forcing her to have 30 stitches, says the animal is not dangerous and he will fight to save its life.

Charlize Allen was injured outside a dairy in Selwyn last weekend after approaching Tama, a bullmastiff cross, while he was tied up.

Owner, Tai Marsden, 26, is now fighting moves by Charlize's parents, Chris Allen and Chontelle Johnstone, to have Tama put down.

"It wasn't a mauling. Tama was tied up with a chain and they went up to him. It's just common sense not to go pat a dog you don't know."

The dog was a regular at the dairy and there had never been a problem. "He's not a vicious dog and he's well behaved - he just looks a lot scarier than he really is," Marsden said.

He said his friends and neighbours, some who had children, were comfortable around Tama.

"We are sorry that it happened but nothing like this has happened before."

Chris Allen said, however, that he would push for the dog's destruction.

"It needs to be put down, or I'll do it myself," he commented.