She said three women were in the front garden of the property where the dog came from, and while one rushed to help, she was unable to remove the dog.
“A bystander eventually had to grab the dog’s legs and pull him away to get him to release my puppy,” she said.
The woman said she rushed to her friend’s aid after the attack and took her back to her home, where the friend fainted.
“I called 111 and [an] ambulance, and police came to help her,” she said.
“The person in the ambulance helping her told her she was lucky, and that if she was a child the dog would have killed her.”
The puppy needed surgery for a bite wound.
The woman’s friend “needed shots and treatment for puncture wounds”, she said.
The woman then rushed her puppy to the vet.
“The dog had bitten through the tissue on his rear end, and he needed surgery to cut through the bite tunnel, and restitch it, and put a draining tube in,” she said.
The woman said her dog had already faced challenges before this, as he was rehomed and had a “difficult time growing up”.
However, he had been making “significant progress” with his confidence, training and handling.
“Since the attack, he has completely changed,” the woman said.
“He is now extremely fearful and reactive, struggles with handling, and has developed serious behaviour issues following the trauma and multiple stressful veterinary procedures.
“He now requires long-term anxiety medication and we are working with a behaviourist to create a plan because he can no longer be safely handled in the way he could before.”
The puppy is now fearful and reactive, struggles with handling, and has developed behaviour issues after the attack.
The woman said the following day, she alerted the Christchurch City Council Animal Management team about the attack, providing photos of her dog’s injuries and $3300 in veterinary bills.
“I was told that they could forward the costs to the dog owner but could not force them to pay,” she said.
“I was also told that they were not responsible for any treatment for behavioural issues or long-term medication costs arising after the attack.”
The woman said Animal Management told her that, depending on the attacking dog’s history, “possible outcomes could include a warning, classification as a dangerous dog, or further action”.
Just days later, the woman drove past the house while taking her dog to another vet appointment.
“I saw their dog in the front yard, with the gate wide open. I called Animal Management, and they said they would write this in their notes but would not do anything at the time.”
The woman said she was concerned as young children often walked in the area.
Police confirmed they attended but referred to Animal Management for further comment.
The council said the dog attack was under “active investigation”.
It said any enforcement decision will be made in accordance with the council’s Compliance Strategy and the provisions of the Dog Control Act 1996.
Factors for further action include the circumstances and severity of the attack, previous history of aggressive behaviour by the dog, the level of ongoing public safety risk and actions taken by the dog owner to mitigate any identified risks and prevent a recurrence.
It said the investigation would also look into any prior breaches of the Dog Control Act 1996 and/or the Dog Control Bylaw 2025 by the owner.
“The range of enforcement options available can vary depending on the facts established during the investigation and may include education, warnings, infringement action, classification of the dog, prosecution or other measures authorised under the Dog Control Act 1996,” the council said.
The council acknowledged that “investigations of this nature can be time-consuming”, with officers required to gather and assess all relevant evidence.
“This may include witness statements, medical or veterinary reports, photographs of injuries, video footage and any other information necessary to establish the facts before a decision is made.”
When asked if the dog has been classified as menacing or dangerous, or if such a classification is being considered, the council said as the investigation remains active, “providing details about the investigation, its progress, potential lines of inquiry or any interim findings could prejudice the integrity and outcome of the process”.
A child was seriously injured after being attacked by a dog in Christchurch last week.
Police were called shortly before midday on September 29, after the Breezes Rd attack in the eastern suburb of Aranui.
At the time, a council spokesperson said Animal Management had seized a 6-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross.
On Friday, the council confirmed the dog was “euthanised after being surrendered for destruction by the owner”.
Toddler Sonny-Charles, 1, died on August 14 at his family home in Aranui after being bitten by a dog.
Police have confirmed no criminal charges will be laid in relation to the boy’s death.