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Tauranga City Council animal services team leader Brent Lincoln said the dog\u2019s owner was walking three dogs, two of which were off-leash and rushed at the victim. One, a young bull mastiff, severely bit the victim\u2019s elbow.<\/p>\n
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The victim tried to block the attack, but the dog latched on before releasing him. He was left with a large open wound and required surgery at Tauranga Hospital.<\/p>\n
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Lincoln said the victim endured multiple hospital visits, home medical visits, physiotherapy and special dressings.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe has been psychologically impacted by this attack for the rest of his life.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He said the attack dog, which had no prior history of offending, was registered.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThis attack shows dogs can be unpredictable and owners need to stay alert to their dog\u2019s behaviour, which can quickly change in certain circumstances.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt was preferable to keep dogs on a leash until other people passed by or had left the area.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Lincoln said the dog\u2019s owner pleaded guilty to a charge of being the owner of a dog that caused serious injury at a judge-alone hearing in the Tauranga District Court in July.<\/p>\n
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The maximum penalty is three years in prison or a $20,000 fine.<\/p>\n
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The Dog Control Act also required a mandatory destruction order unless the court finds exceptional circumstances that did not warrant the dog\u2019s destruction, Lincoln said.<\/p>\n
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The dog\u2019s owner was ordered to pay $1000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim, and the council would be seeking a 5-year ownership disqualification, he said.<\/p>\n
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The council is also seeking to have the dog destroyed.<\/p>\n
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Roaming dogs were \u201canother major concern\u201d, with 1468 complaints in the 2024\/2025 year, 130 more than the previous 12 months.<\/p>\n
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Brent Lincoln, team leader of Tauranga City Council’s animal services. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
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Lincoln said roaming dogs could become \u201cmore territorial and aggressive\u201d and that could lead to an attack.<\/p>\n
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\u201cSome dogs are escape artists.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Owners could face a $300 infringement notice if their dog roamed and could be disqualified from owning a dog after three infringements within two years.<\/p>\n
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There were also 109 complaints of attacks on domestic animals in the past year.<\/p>\n
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Sixty-three owners were currently disqualified from owning a dog, normally for three years for infringement offences and up to five years if prosecuted.<\/p>\n
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The Western Bay of Plenty District Council confirmed that dogs attacked 30 people and 100 animals in the year to June 30, 2025.<\/p>\n
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This was 20 fewer attacks than the previous 12 months.<\/p>\n
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Dog attack victim Timothy Tu\u2019uaki Rolleston-Bryan, 4, of Katikati, was killed in March 2025. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
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