The owners of a dog deemed dangerous by the Queenstown Lakes District Council will today appeal the classification at a public hearing in Wanaka.
Lakes Environmental chief executive Hamish Dobbie yesterday declined to release information on the nature of the dispute between the dog owners and the council, because he did not want to interfere with the appeal process.
However, he confirmed the council had earlier decided the dog was dangerous.
It is not known what breed the dog is or what type of behaviour has been alleged.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council dog control bylaw 2006 defines a dangerous dog as "any dog" which has earned its owner a conviction under section 57A of the Dog Control Act 1996 for rushing at persons, animals, or vehicles.
It may also be any dog the council has reasonable grounds to believe constitutes a threat to the safety of people and other animals, or any dog the owner admits in writing is a threat.
Breaching relevant bylaws can incur fines of $300.
