Unleashed dog blitz brings $1800 in fines

By CATHERINE MASTERS

Dog control officers issued $1800 of instant fines yesterday on the first day of an Auckland City Council blitz on lawless dog owners.

Nine dogs were discovered off their leashes in public areas.

The blitz, which includes a 25 per cent rise in dog patrols in reserves, follows a vicious dog attack on 7-year-old Carolina Anderson.

Carolina has undergone hours of plastic surgery at Kidz First children's hospital after a dog mauled her in Coxs Bay Reserve, Westmere, a week ago today and bit away large chunks of her face. Last night she was said to be stable.

Two american staffordshire terriers have been seized in connection with the attack and two men were due to appear in the Auckland District Court today, charged with owning a dog that causes serious injury.

The council's month-long blitz includes suspending its policy of issuing warnings to owners of dogs found off their leads in public places and instead imposing $200 fines.

Yesterday, Ken Muir of Animal Control Services, the company which manages animal control for the council, said nine infringement notices had been issued.

But most dog owners were co-operative and no serious incidents had been reported.

"No major activity at all actually. For example, around the waterfront we saw some 20 dogs and only two were off the lead."

When the Herald visited central Auckland parks yesterday afternoon only three dogs were to be seen and they were on leads, but a caller said he saw a staffordshire terrier running free in Coxs Bay Reserve.

* Wanganui police charged a man with animal cruelty after he allegedly bit the throat out of a kitten then stomping it to death late on Wednesday night.

The man, in his late 30s, was remanded to appear in Wanganui Court next week.