Pitbull Boris guilty of car-nage

Boris is being kept in Animal Control's custody. Picture / Kelvin Teixeira

Boris the American pitbull terrier who attacked several cars in Rotorua - shaking one violently and leaving 18 bite marks on the front bumper - is behind bars in the city pound.

"We have him in custody, and it's fair to say we are having difficulty handling him," Rotorua animal control unit boss Kevin Coutts said yesterday.

Boris had obviously been "on a mission" one afternoon late last week when he caused about $800 worth of damage to three cars within half an hour, said Mr Coutts.

The young dog had been wandering through the city's western suburbs and turned on the cars when they swerved to avoid hitting him.

One woman, who wants to remain anonymous, was terrified when the tan pitbull vigorously took to her Mitsubishi Galant after she stopped. She heard loud bangs and could feel the car being shaken.

Petrified that the dog would go for her, she stayed in the car until Boris got bored. Two members of the public came to her aid and helped to bundle the dog into the car boot until animal control staff arrived.

Mr Coutts said he had never come across a dog that would grab bumpers and shake vehicles.

Boris' owner would be charged but the case would probably not get to court for three months, he said.

The owner did not show much reaction but "he took a backward step when he heard how much it was going to cost him in damage to the cars", said Mr Coutts.

Boris, meanwhile, would remain in detention until a decision was made about his future.

Staff had been abused and asked why they were "not doing their job properly" because the unregistered, unneutered pitbull had not been put down, Mr Coutts said.

But a dog could only be destroyed if it was seen attacking a person, a domestic animal or protected wildlife.

Alternatively, the owner had to agree to hand it over, or a judge had to issue a destruction order in court.