Laura Dawn Hildreth, 46, owner of dogs Oscar and Ollie, faced six charges brought by the Dunedin City Council in the Dunedin District Court this week.
The defendant described Oscar as a black retriever-Labrador cross, and Ollie as a male brindle-coloured whippet, but it was the council’s opinion the dogs were more likely Staffordshire bull terrier-pit bull crosses.
Hildreth did not appear, but Judge June Jelas found the council had provided enough evidence for the charges to be proven.
DCC documents revealed on June 20, a 77-year-old woman was walking in Taieri Rd when the two dogs barked and approached her.
They ran past her, but then turned around and snarled.
Hildreth called out to her dogs, and the black one withdrew, but Ollie jumped towards the victim’s face.
The woman raised her arm to protect herself, but the dog bit it and she reported hearing a "crunch" before the dog let go and ran off.
She saw Hildreth usher the two dogs into her Taieri Rd home and someone yelled out "sorry".
The victim called a friend for help and after seeking medical attention was diagnosed with a fractured forearm, a puncture wound and bruising.
Hildreth told an animal control officer her dogs could not have been involved in the attack as she was away with the dogs for Matariki weekend.
Less than a week later, on June 26, another woman was walking in Taieri Rd and pushing her baby in a stroller when she heard loud barking.
She turned around and Oscar and Ollie were running towards her.
The black dog crouched in front of the victim, growling with his ears pinned back, while the other dog bit the woman behind her knee.
She screamed and the dog let go.
The defendant grabbed the dogs, said "sorry" and put them into her car.
A man from a nearby property assisted the woman, who went to the urgent doctors and required stitches.
Earlier, while living in the Matamata-Piako district for a month, the defendant racked up 12 dog-related infringements.
That council classified Oscar as menacing and Ollie as dangerous, which meant the latter should have been muzzled and on a leash in public.
Hildreth had not notified the DCC that she and her dogs had relocated to Dunedin as required.
This week, Judge Jelas ordered both dogs be destroyed and ordered Hildreth to pay $750 emotional harm reparation to each victim.
DCC lawyer Eleanor Bunt noted Hildreth would be banned from owning dogs for five years and was $7000 in debt to the pound.
