• Full Story

Dog attacks blamed on owner responsibility

Email
Print

Sun, 29 May 2011 1:25p.m.

A four-year-old Masterton girl also needs facial reconstruction

A four-year-old Masterton girl also needs facial reconstruction

The SPCA is calling for more owner responsibility following two brutal dog attacks on children.

A two-year-old girl is undergoing surgery in Whakatane Hospital after being mauled by a dog in Kawerau and is expected out of theatre this afternoon, while her family wait by her bedside.

A four-year-old Masterton girl also needs facial reconstruction after an attack by a mastiff-cross while visiting family.

The SPCA's Robyn Kippenberger says it's not always the dogs' fault, but Local Government Minister Rodney Hide is promising a reform of the dog control laws before the November election, saying such incidents highlight the need for a ‘decent review’.

RadioLIVE

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

30 May 2011 01:39p.m.

Ross wrote:

I love dawgs too... And really the solution is a bullet for the dangerous breeds. The less there are roaming, eventually the problem will subside.
The real problem we have in New Zealand tho is the far larger number of Kiddies being murdered within the home. Shame that's not so easily solved.
Not to make light of these attacks, certainly they're horrific, but lets get our knickers in a twist about something far more important than the rights of fools who keep these animals, out of laziness or some morbid sense of macho - In some cases, it could be two birds with one bullet.

30 May 2011 09:33a.m.

that guy wrote:

There are alot of grey areas in this matter. Nature vs Nurture. Trained dogs VS Trained children. I for one am not a big fan of pitties, but in saying that i have met alot of very docile ones as well as the psyco one. But by banning pitties we are opening a gateway to ban other breeds that the "community are scared of". The solution is very simple but will be made difficuilt by all the poltical BS that complicates most things in this world. LICENSE LICENSE LICENSE. Dogs considered dangerous need to be scaled from 1-5 depending on that number the restrictions on a license required to own that dog will also be harder. The owner of a dangerous dogg will need a clean dog owning record with proof they are capable of owning one. Regulations of property boundaries must be met, Muzzles, dog training coursed mandatory. This is the only fair solutio. Then the goverment also need to promote awarweness in the community for how people (parents/children) interact with a strange dog. EG don't run up & hug him, dont tease it, don't look at in the eye. Just casually walk up with your hand facing down & allow him to sniff. Dog awarenss must be pushed on all people just like road awareness. Those who fail to acknowledge this & just want all dogs banned.....go shift to a country where there are no dogs SIMPLE!!!!

30 May 2011 07:13a.m.

RolanTheRat wrote:

Because it is election time we will see new laws.Sad that the MP'S think we are that thick to think it will buy them that many votes these laws if they come should have been done years ago.

29 May 2011 06:59p.m.

Davo wrote:

Such calls will only fall on deaf ears. If owners don't take responsibility, we'll have no choice but to ban and eradicate all dangerous breeds.

29 May 2011 06:27p.m.

Wendy wrote:

I love dogs, and have two, a boxer and a bull mastiff. They are gentle and loving with our two children and us, and are very protcetive of our special needs son. However I lock them in their - very comfoy and warm cage in our sons room - when we have visitors so I am never faced with this situation. So sad