\u201cMy wife entered hyper\u2011focus mode and tuned out everything else as she tried to save our dog,” the man said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m told that at some point, my brave wife ended up on her hands and knees leaning over our dog. Luckily, she didn\u2019t get attacked, but she suffered grazes and bruising.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the veterinarian described their dog\u2019s injuries as \u201camong the top five worst\u201d they had seen. <\/p>\n
Two\u2011thirds of the dog\u2019s back skin was ripped off and a large chunk of muscle was torn from a back leg. She also had a dislocated hip and a broken fibula.<\/p>\n
He said the emergency surgery and a second operation on March 11 to remove dead tissue cost $9200. <\/p>\n
The dog was heavily bandaged and would need dressing changes in the coming weeks, adding further expense. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur dog has perked up a little bit, but it\u2019s very early days in her recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are tremendously grateful to all those kind people who helped at the scene, and those who took the time to gather and present evidence to the police and the council.\u201d<\/p>\n
The owner said New Zealand\u2019s dog control laws needed urgent review so dogs responsible for serious injury attacks could be immediately seized and put down. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe also need mandatory prosecution for owners of violent dogs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there were a violent human on the loose attacking other people, the police would be out there straight away taking the person into custody, and charging them.<\/p>\n
\u201cNext time, it could be someone\u2019s child. Something has to change. No one should have to go through this.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Sherwood St resident, who asked not to be named, said she was in her bathroom when she heard a horrendous noise and screaming. She saw the woman trying to protect her dog, and called the police. <\/p>\n
A man who stopped to help jumped on to the roof of his van to avoid being bitten and injured his chin. He drove the injured dog and owner to a veterinary clinic.<\/p>\n
The resident said the owner of the attack dogs got them back inside her car and drove off.<\/p>\n
She believed the council should have acted immediately to seize the dogs and prosecute their owner. <\/p>\n
Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Photo \/ Alex Cairns<\/p>\n
Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell said dog attacks were \u201cdevastating and often avoidable\u201d and owners should take responsibility for themselves and control their dogs.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy position is that when there is a serious dog attack, the owner should be prosecuted and the dog put down, and that position is consistent with the views of victims I\u2019ve spoken to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uffindell said the safety of attack victims and the community should come first.<\/p>\n
He said councils had the power to prosecute owners, but people were concerned that councils were not exercising that power. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve even heard of dangerous dogs being given back to their bad owners with no prosecution. How does that happen? It\u2019s not good enough. It fails the victims and puts the rest of the community at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n
On March 21, the Government ordered a review of the decades-old Dog Control Act in a bid to crack down on roaming and uncontrolled dogs. <\/p>\n
Local Government Minister Simon Watts said Local Government NZ and councils had been clear that the Act was outdated and stopping them from doing their jobs. <\/p>\n
The attacked dog\u2019s owner said he welcomed the news, but the Government moved \u201cat the pace of a paua\u201d, and he believed there would be more attacks before the review was completed.<\/p>\n
Tauranga City Council regulatory and community services general manager Sarah Omunsden said the council was \u201cactively investigating\u201d the attack. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur thoughts are with the dog and the owner affected by this attack.\u201d<\/p>\n
The council had received multiple reports about the attack, and Omundsen said one dog had been seized with the police\u2019s assistance. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been in regular contact with the injured dog\u2019s owner, but cannot provide further details as it could compromise the investigation.\u201d <\/p>\n
Omundsen said the animal services team\u2019s \u201ctop priority\u201d was keeping the community safe, and urged residents to report roaming dogs or attacks immediately.<\/p>\n
The council supported a full review of the 30-year-old Dog Control Act, Omundsen said. <\/p>\n