Trap set for marauder

Jaimee Hohaia, 4, from Totara Park, checks out the baited trap. She is worried for her pet rabbit, Smokey. Photo / Janna Dixon

Attacks by roaming dog raise safety fears.

A baited trap has been set to catch a dog that has terrorised cattle on several South Auckland lifestyle blocks and killed a tame duck. A spokesman for Auckland Council confirmed the authority had set a trap in Redoubt Rd, where a medium-sized brown Staffordshire bull terrier-cross was spotted menacing livestock and pet animals on several neighbouring semi-rural properties.

The trap comes too late for one resident who discovered on Friday she had lost one of two injured ducks to the canine marauder. Totara Park resident Angela McGregor hoped the dog would be caught before it caused further carnage and voiced safety concerns for her school-aged children.

She said she saw one of the dog's recent attacks, describing an awful commotion when the dog tried to pry open a chicken coop. After she had chased the dog away she said it went for cows grazing nearby before making a beeline for a rabbit hutch.

She now held fears for the welfare of her children, including 4-year-old Jaimee Hohaia who is scared her pet rabbit might be hurt. McGregor said the dog had started roaming properties in recent weeks. "

I'd be definitely concerned if my kids were outside and the dog came up.Angela McGregor, concerned residentAbaited trap has been set to catch a dog that has terrorised cattle on several South Auckland lifestyle blocks and killed a tame duck.

A spokesman for Auckland Council confirmed the authority had set a trap in Redoubt Rd, where a medium-sized brown Staffordshire bull terrier-cross was spotted menacing livestock and pet animals on several neighbouring semi-rural properties. The trap comes too late for one resident who discovered on Friday she had lost one of two injured ducks to the canine marauder.

Totara Park resident Angela McGregor hoped the dog would be caught before it caused further carnage and voiced safety concerns for her school-aged children.

She said she saw one of the dog's recent attacks, describing an awful commotion when the dog tried to pry open a chicken coop.

After she had chased the dog away she said it went for cows grazing nearby before making a beeline for a rabbit hutch.

She now held fears for the welfare of her children, including 4-year-old Jaimee Hohaia who is scared her pet rabbit might be hurt.

McGregor said the dog had started roaming properties in recent weeks.

"I'd be definitely concerned if my kids were outside and the dog came up."

A council spokeswoman said it had received several calls from worried residents in just two days. They had described a dog being aggressive to pasture animals and seriously injuring two ducks.

Residents said the dog had been seen chasing livestock in the past.

Animal management patrolled the area soon after and spotted the dog, but it gave those hunting it the slip. The spokeswoman said animal management officers were still patrolling the area and constantly monitoring the trap.