KANEOHE, HI -- A 36-year-old woman remains in serious condition after she was mauled by a 130-pound Bull Mastiff at the Kaneohe Bay sandbar Tuesday afternoon.
The dog attack happened as the woman was setting an anchor in knee-deep water. The incident highlights yet another gray area when it comes to enforcing rules at the popular sandbar.
![]()
"Horrific unprovoked attack!" said Rob Mathews who is angered and still in disbelief by the attack that happened just after 2-30 Tuesday afternoon.
This is what a Bullmastiff looks like. They are athletic and muscular dogs. Mathews says the dogs in Tuesday's incident were not on a leash.
"She had surgery last night, she's recovering today and she'll be in the hospital for two or three days," he said.
"What happened yesterday could have happened to a small child and the result could have been a lot more serious."
And that has many who visit the sandbar concerned.
"When we bring our dogs out we usually leash them. I think it's important when you go out to the sandbar you be responsible for your own family, your animals to make sure that everyone is out there to have a good time," said Kaneohe resident Carleen Niimi.
Peter Nottage has seen it happen for decades.
"I've seen some pretty big dogs out there in the old days, some under real close control and others kind of running around and with little kids it was very scary for me," said Nottage who has spent time at the sandbar for the past 50 years.
"You know we don't believe in too much government intervention but we've got to have some rules out here."
![]()
But when it comes to enforcing rules at the sandbar there are many gray areas. Honolulu police and the Hawaiian Humane Society say the dog's owner received a written warning in regards to the city's dangerous dog law but no citation was issued. A criminal case has not been opened against the owner.
There's also a question as to whether the state's leash law even applies at the sandbar. Tuesday's attack will certainly be discussed Thursday morning when the state looks at new rules for the popular sandbar.
"Obviously after yesterday's event it's potentially dangerous, somebody should look into it for sure," said Mathews.
![]()
The State Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider new rules at the sandbar in a meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Kalanimoku Building, Room 132.
The dog attack happened as the woman was setting an anchor in knee-deep water. The incident highlights yet another gray area when it comes to enforcing rules at the popular sandbar.
"Horrific unprovoked attack!" said Rob Mathews who is angered and still in disbelief by the attack that happened just after 2-30 Tuesday afternoon.
"The dogs ran down, one of them was a 130 pound Bullmastiff and just jumped up and attacked the crew member. Knocked her down then got her by the neck and gave her some serious lacerations behind her ear, her neck and her head."
This is what a Bullmastiff looks like. They are athletic and muscular dogs. Mathews says the dogs in Tuesday's incident were not on a leash.
 |
| Video still of a trained Mastiff |
"She had surgery last night, she's recovering today and she'll be in the hospital for two or three days," he said.
"What happened yesterday could have happened to a small child and the result could have been a lot more serious."
And that has many who visit the sandbar concerned.
"When we bring our dogs out we usually leash them. I think it's important when you go out to the sandbar you be responsible for your own family, your animals to make sure that everyone is out there to have a good time," said Kaneohe resident Carleen Niimi.
Peter Nottage has seen it happen for decades.
"I've seen some pretty big dogs out there in the old days, some under real close control and others kind of running around and with little kids it was very scary for me," said Nottage who has spent time at the sandbar for the past 50 years.
"You know we don't believe in too much government intervention but we've got to have some rules out here."
But when it comes to enforcing rules at the sandbar there are many gray areas. Honolulu police and the Hawaiian Humane Society say the dog's owner received a written warning in regards to the city's dangerous dog law but no citation was issued. A criminal case has not been opened against the owner.
There's also a question as to whether the state's leash law even applies at the sandbar. Tuesday's attack will certainly be discussed Thursday morning when the state looks at new rules for the popular sandbar.
"Obviously after yesterday's event it's potentially dangerous, somebody should look into it for sure," said Mathews.
The State Board of Land and Natural Resources will consider new rules at the sandbar in a meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Kalanimoku Building, Room 132.
(KHON2 - June 22, 2011)
Read More:
