Two women, who did not want to be identified and were inside the Hastings Community Arts Centre directly across the road from where the attack happened, said their view was initially partly blocked by vehicles, but they could hear the attack.
They said police officers struggled to bring the dog under control.
“It was a very strong dog,” one witness told Hawke’s Bay Today.
“It took at least two people at a time to try to hold the dog.”
She said police appeared to use Tasers on the dog multiple times, but “the dog just kept getting up”, she said.
A police spokesman confirmed they had to use “non-lethal tactical options” to bring the dog under control because of its aggressive behaviour.
“The matter is now being investigated by council.”
A witness said she could also see another dog “barking all the time” on the back of a ute near the scene and wondered whether this may have prompted the attack.
She said she did not often see roaming dogs in the Hastings CBD and, from what they observed, the attacking dog appeared to be on a leash.
The council initially said its records showed the dog had been impounded twice for roaming but after reviewing its records, said the dog had in fact been impounded once for roaming, in May.
That did not happen in the CBD and did not involve aggression, a spokeswoman said.
Council staff in Hastings receive about 1300 roaming dog complaints each year. The spokeswoman said reports of roaming dogs in Hastings’ CBD were rare and averaged only one or two annually.
“Generally, after a second roaming complaint, we will seek an explanation from the dog owner. If this is accepted, it will result in a final warning,” the spokeswoman said.
“If it is unacceptable, it will result in $200 infringement notices being issued. Infringement notices will continue to be issued if they continue to offend, coupled with education and advice.”
As the Hastings CBD investigation remains ongoing, the council said the owner could voluntarily surrender the dog for euthanasia. If not, it would seek legal advice.
Council regulatory solutions manager John Payne said dog owners had a responsibility to keep their dogs under proper control and muzzled if they were “potentially aggressive in any way”.
Mayor Wendy Schollum acknowledged the CBD incident would be “incredibly distressing.”
“I know an attack like this, especially in a busy part of the city centre, will be upsetting for many people and may leave others feeling concerned,” she said.
“The matter is being treated seriously. It is important that the investigation is completed properly so the right action can be taken.”
Rafaella Melo has more than 10 years of experience as a journalist in Brazil. She has worn many hats, from radio and TV presenter and producer to magazine editor before joining the Hawke’s Bay Today team as a multimedia journalist.