8.30pm - By BRIDGET CARTER, ALAN PERROTT and NATASHA HARRIS
A Northland dog breeder has died after being bitten by one of three dogs at her house.
Alaskan Malamute breeder Yvonne Harris, 73, was discovered dead in her Ruakaka home yesterday by a neighbour.
The scene of her death was so grisly, police and doctors initially thought she had been murdered.
Whangarei Police area controller Inspector Paul Dimery said today it appeared that Mrs Harris died after a dog bit her leg, severing her varicose veins and causing massive blood loss.
It is yet another incident involving dog bites after a spate of attacks.
Earlier this week John Anderson, father of 7-year-old victim Carolina, took his plea for harsher laws to govern dangerous dogs to Parliament.
Mrs Harris' neighbours said tonight the woman had three Alaskan Malamutes at her home, two of her own and one that belonged to her daughter.
All of the dogs were taken away by Environment Northland's animal control yesterday but it is not yet known if any of them will be put down.
Sheryl Brown said she went next door to check on her elderly neighbour after Mrs Harris' daughter had rung her saying she was concerned she had not heard from her mother for three days.
Mrs Brown said she looked through the window and saw Mrs Harris sitting in a chair staring ahead.
Realising she was dead, Mrs Brown called the police.
"She had dogs her whole life," she said.
"They were beautiful dogs."
Mrs Harris' daughter, Desne, said she did not want to talk about her mother's death until she had heard back from the police.
Another neighbour, Beatrice Galvan, said the dogs began whining last Friday.
Guests staying overnight on Monday had complained of not getting any sleep because of the increasing noise.
Mrs Galvan said the dogs were noisily trying to enter the home through the kitchen window when she left for work at 6am yesterday and she had intended complaining to police when she got home.
She had spoken to another neighbour several times in the past few weeks about her concerns for the woman's safety.
Mrs Galvan had been worried about her ability to control the large dogs.
Neighbours were also worried the woman was unable to walk the dogs because of their size.
Yvonne Harris was the first New Zealander to bring Alaskan Malamutes to the country and other bredders around the country last night described her as "a respected Malamute professional".
They said her death would have had to be a "freak accident".
Peter Stables, a breeder for 20 years in Kumeu, said while the dogs had a strong pack hierarchy, they were very friendly with people.
"I'm flabbergasted as I didn't think this would have happened to Yvonne who knew the dogs so well - it would have to be a freak accident," Mr Stables said.
Christchurch breeder, Clive Coulson said he was sad to hear of Mrs Harris' death.
"It's very, very sad. I remember Yvonne bred a super bitch a while back - she was in the business for such a long time."
Mrs Harris, 73-years-old, had three dogs living together on her property.
Mr Coulson said this shouldn't have been a problem.
"Having three dogs is fine for an elderly person - I'm 67 and I have nine dogs which hasn't been a problem. By the time I'm 80, I'll still have 3 or 4 dogs."
Northern Alaskan Malamute Club President David Guy declined to comment on Mrs Harris' death as he did not know the full details.
But he said the breed were very good family dogs - he said his dogs were "quite comfortable" around his six-week-old son.
Helen Greaves, a breeder from Papakura, agreed the dogs were "very good with people".
"They are the sort of dog I'd trust my life with."
Puppies sell for about $600 and when fully grown weigh between 35kg and 50kg.
Alaskan Malamutes are pack dogs, in which the pecking order is very strict.
The hierarchy is defined by age and sex.
They were originally bred by the Inuit to be all-purpose dogs, good for hauling sleds in winter and hunting polar bear, moose or wolves.
In the Inuit camps, the dogs were loyal family pets that watched over and kept children warm during long winter nights.
They need plenty of space and daily exercise.
Herald feature: When dogs attack
How you can help
A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.
The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.
