Dog owner charged over mauling of toddler

By AINSLEY THOMSON

The owner of one of the dogs blamed for the attack on Thames toddler Alex Josey has been charged by police. The man has also surrendered two puppies which may have joined in the attack.

Police have not decided whether the puppies will be destroyed. The man, who is a neighbour of Alex's family, has been charged with owning a dog that caused a serious injury or attacked a person. The offence carries a maximum fine of $5000 or a three-month jail sentence.

Yesterday police said that Alex's best friend - the family's rottweiler-labrador cross called Roxanne - was in the pack of dogs that viciously attacked him.

As inquiries into Saturday night's attack on the Thames boy continued, police said that five dogs, not four as previously stated, mauled Alex.

But Alex's mother, Arlene Hutton, said she was positive Roxanne had not been involved in the attack, which left Alex with severe wounds on his face and head.

"The police are just looking for someone else to blame because they can't find the other dog," she said.

She said Alex and Roxanne had been inseparable since the family got the dog six months ago. Roxanne slept on the end of Alex's bed and the two were constant playmates - one of their favourite activities was chasing cats around the back lawn.

Ms Hutton said the pair were so close that Alex tried to drink from Roxanne's bowl and eat her food.

But police said Ms Hutton made a statement about the attack saying: "Our family dog was also over on the section [where the attack happened] and appeared to be biting another dog or something."

Ms Hutton told the Herald yesterday that she made the statement while she was still in shock. She said she had seen a dark dog and thought it might have been Roxanne.

"I was hysterical and the police were questioning me. My baby was in the emergency department bleeding to death and the police were questioning me."

She said she has now learned that Roxanne was in the lounge for the duration of the attack.

Sergeant Tony Mumford, of Thames police, said police had received conflicting reports about the attack from witnesses and members of Alex's family and it had been difficult to find out what happened and how many dogs were involved.

A staffordshire-cross bitch called Krone was destroyed yesterday.

Mr Mumford said two of Krone's puppies were also part of the attack.

The fifth dog, a brindle-cross, has not been found.

Alex is still in Waikato Hospital, but Ms Hutton said he was walking and talking and could open his eyes.