The child was bitten by Tank, her uncle\u2019s 9-year-old American bulldog cross, on Christmas Eve, a council report said.<\/p>\n
She was hospitalised for three days and needed reconstructive surgery. She now lives with permanent facial scarring and a fear of dogs.<\/p>\n
The dog is owned by her uncle, Kane Cochran. The attack happened when he was staying with his twin sister in Tauranga while waiting to move into a new rental in Rotorua.<\/p>\n
The two parties claimed differing versions of the incident, which was not reported to animal control authorities until five months later.<\/p>\n
In August last year, Rotorua Lakes Council classified Tank as dangerous, a decision Cochran appealed before the council\u2019s Dog Control Panel.<\/p>\n
The victim\u2019s mother only became aware of the appeal after being contacted by Local Democracy Reporting.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the condition she and her daughter were not named, she said she already felt \u201clet down\u201d by the original decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wanted the dog destroyed,\u201d she said. \u201cI didn\u2019t want it to happen to another child.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said the attack had taken a massive physical and emotional toll on her daughter, who still struggles to smile or open her mouth fully to brush her teeth.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer being bitten wasn\u2019t like a little nip,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a vicious latch on to the face.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 6-year-old was bitten by Tank, her uncle\u2019s 9-year-old American bulldog cross, on Christmas Eve. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
She said the incident also traumatised her other children, who witnessed the attack.<\/p>\n
She said the delay in reporting was in part because of a \u201cmiscommunication\u201d over whether the hospital had formally notified authorities, as well as it being a difficult family situation.<\/p>\n
She rejected Cochran\u2019s claim her children had tormented the dog, saying their behaviour was no more than normal play.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no excuse,\u201d she said. \u201cMy daughter\u2019s life is far more important than that dog.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cochran\u2019s mother spoke on his behalf when he appeared before the panel, disputing he had responsibility for the attack.<\/p>\n
They maintained the child provoked Tank, described as a \u201cbig softie\u201d.<\/p>\n
The panel rejected the appeal. Tank must now be neutered, kept under stricter public control, housed behind more secure fencing and registered at a higher cost.<\/p>\n
Why council did not seek destruction order<\/p>\n
Tauranga City Council investigated the attack, animal services team leader Oscar Glossop confirmed.<\/p>\n
He said a destruction order was not pursued due to changed circumstances, delayed reporting and a lack of police involvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen our investigation began, we found the dog and its owner were no longer living with the victim.\u201d <\/p>\n
The situation had \u201cchanged significantly\u201d since the attack, he said.<\/p>\n
Late reporting limited council action, and destruction orders \u201ccan only be made by the court following a successful prosecution\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
After reviewing the case, Glossop said they found the evidence did not meet the Solicitor-General\u2019s Prosecution Guidelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout sufficient evidence to support a prosecution, seeking a destruction order was not legally possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen incidents aren\u2019t reported at the time they occur, it limits the steps our Animal Services team can take.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 6-year-old was bitten by Tank, her uncle\u2019s 9-year-old American bulldog cross, on Christmas Eve. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n
He said his first thoughts were with the young girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo one should have to experience something like this in our city,\u201d Glossop said. <\/p>\n
The council was \u201creviewing\u201d its processes on dog attacks, and he understood a lack of prosecution could be \u201cupsetting\u201d to victims.<\/p>\n
He was confident the dangerous dog classification would be sufficient to ensure the dog posed no threat to the public.<\/p>\n
Both the Tauranga and Rotorua councils would monitor the owner\u2019s \u201ccompliance\u201d with the conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost dog owners do a great job,\u201d Glossop said. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut incidents like this are a reminder that all owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs securely contained and well-managed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dog control in the spotlight<\/p>\n
The Dog Control Act 1996 requires dogs that cause serious injury to be destroyed upon conviction of the owner, unless there are \u201cexceptional\u201d circumstances.<\/p>\n
In 2023, a rottweiler named Chopper was put down following a two-year legal battle<\/a> after an attack that left a vet with lifelong nerve damage and scarring.<\/p>\n On that occasion, Tauranga City Council appealed a previous decision to overturn a destruction order.<\/p>\n Dog attacks have been in the national spotlight recently after Mihiata Te Rore<\/a>, 62, was killed in an attack by three dogs in Northland last month and a Christchurch attack left three people injured<\/a>, one critically.<\/p>\n These and other incidents have spurred calls for the Government to do more to stop dangerous dogs.<\/p>\nPolice in Kaihu investigating the fatal Northland dog attack last month. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n