Toddlers mauled in pack dog-attack

A man has admitted owning dogs that brutally savaged two toddlers and an adult in a pack dog-attack.

Paki Hoani Taiatini appeared in the Rotorua District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to three charges of owning a dog that attacked a person.

The attack happened on February 22 when a teacher from Waiohewa Kohanga Reo at Rotokawa took two toddlers, aged 18 and 20 months, for a morning walk through a paddock from the kohanga to Lake Rotorua.

They passed Taiatini's property, which is semi-rural and is partly enclosed by what police described as "loose fencing".

Four bull terrier labrador cross dogs spotted the trio and ran from the house.

They pounced on the children and at one stage, all four dogs were attacking the toddlers at the same time.

The teacher tried to free the toddlers by holding them by their hands above her head. Unable to get to the children, the dogs attacked the teacher, biting and scratching at her legs.

She eventually fell to the ground but still managed to protect the children by covering them with her arms and curling into a ball.

The attack continued as the dogs tried to pull the children from the teacher's grip.

A police summary of facts said if it was not for the "brave and selfless" actions of the teacher, dog control officers were sure the dogs would have killed one of the children.

The dogs were eventually fended off by other teachers and members of the public. The entire attack was witnessed by other children and staff members.

The police and dog control officers caught the dogs and later destroyed them.

The 20-month-old boy was admitted to hospital with three serious puncture wounds, one of which was to the bone, as well as several deep scratches and bite marks.

The 18-month-old girl suffered 11 puncture wounds and rips wounds to her legs which required stitching, as well as numerous grazes, cuts, bruises and bite marks.

The teacher suffered several bite marks to her back, a puncture wound to her lower left leg as well as scratches and bruising.

The summary of facts said Taiatini, a 34-year-old nursery worker, from Mourea, was at work at the time of the attack but accepted what his dogs had done and showed genuine remorse.

He accepted his dogs would be destroyed and accepted responsibility for what had happened.

Judge Robert Kerr convicted Taiatini and remanded him at large to reappear in court on June 21 for sentencing.

In the meantime, he is to go through a restorative justice programme with Mana Social Services.

Each charge carries a maximum jail term of three years or a $20,000 fine.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)