The Government has promised to review dog laws after three
dog attacks on children in less than a week.
A 9-year-old girl was left with deep cuts to her head and arm
after being attacked by her neighbour's American bulldog in
Rotorua yesterday afternoon.
She was taken to hospital following the attack about 2.30pm.
The owner of the dog said his partner had been walking with
the dog on its lead and six children, including the victim.
The girl was bouncing a ball when the dog took to her arm and
head.
The owner's partner tried to pull the dog away and threw
herself over the girl to protect her from the dog.
The attack was the third on a child in a less than a week.
Police will meet animal control officers today over whether
to press charges over a dog attack on a toddler in Porirua.
The 18-month-old girl was playing in her backyard when the
family's pitbull-staffordshire cross lunged at her.
She suffered significant injuries to the right side of her
face and stomach.
The girl was yesterday in a satisfactory condition after
undergoing surgery on Saturday, a spokeswoman for the Hutt
Valley District Health Board said.
And last Wednesday, a 3-year-old boy was left in a critical
condition following an attack in Ashburton.
He was moved to Starship Hospital on Friday and an Auckland
District Health Board spokeswoman said the preschooler
underwent surgery over the weekend and was in a stable but
critical condition in the intensive care unit today.
Local Government Minister Nick Smith said he was concerned
about the recent spate of serious attacks and promised
yesterday to begin a stalled inquiry into laws governing
dangerous dogs. The investigation had been due to take place
last year.
Les Dalton of the Institute of Animal Control Officers said
he was keen to talk to the minister.
"But the Dog Control Act at the present time is sufficient,
whereby if there's a dog threatening public safety animal
control officers are empowered to enter those properties with
police and seize the dogs and the penalties are certainly
very high,'' he told TVNZ this morning.
He said breed-specific legislation did not seem to be working
overseas and he was not in favour of that.
"But certainly we have cross bred dogs here of an undesirable
breed I think."
A conviction for failing to control a dog causing injury can
carry a three-year jail term and a $20,000 fine.
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