An Invercargill woman was convicted after her dog attacked and killed another dog.
Robyn Matthews (32) appeared yesterday in the Invercargill District Court, where she pleaded guilty to two charges of failure to comply with the rules relating to classification as a menacing dog, two of failing to register a dog, two of transferring a dog from one address to another, two of not containing a dog on the owner’s property and one of dog attacking person or animal.
Invercargill City Council lawyer Michael Morris said in the morning of September 19 the victim was walking with her dog in Scandrett St when she heard dogs barking.
When she turned around, two dogs owned by the defendant rushed up to her and her dog. One of them grabbed the victim’s dog in his mouth and started violently and repeatedly shaking it until neighbours approached.
The dog died from the injuries.
Mr Morris also said those two dogs were classified as menacing dogs in May 2017 after another dog was attacked.
Neither of the dogs was registered or muzzled at the time of the recent attack, which meant Matthews had failed to comply with the council’s requirement.
She also failed to control her dogs — as all owners have an obligation to ensure their dogs are contained when within their own property and unable to freely leave — and to advise the council that she had moved house.
Mr Morris said the council sought an order for destruction but this was not necessary because she had already surrendered the dog.
Judge Russell Walker referred the case to restorative justice and an appearance was scheduled for January.
