NEW ZEALAND -- The owners of a Rottweiler accused of a vicious, unprovoked attack that left a fox terrier with $3200 of injuries want its classification as menacing to be overturned.
Their objection prompted a rare sitting of Palmerston North City Council committee on a Dog Control Act matter yesterday.
Longburn resident Tony Cade and his sons Chris and Alan made a joint appeal.
They said 4-year-old Jess was a loved family pet, that they could not be certain she was responsible for the attack and, if she was, it was because another dog had earlier lunged at her through a gate.
They said a chain on the gate had apparently been broken in the incident, that Jess would have been distressed, and was able to get out because of the damage.
Council animal control officer Jim Neill said however Jess managed to get out, she had no right to cross the road and almost kill another dog.
He was alerted to the attack on the afternoon of January 14, went to Longburn, and spoke to a witness who had helped the victim and had stayed at the scene to watch the rottweiler after it ran home.
Mr Neill and a colleague took the dog to the pound.
Later in the day, complainant Gaye Anderson talked to him about the ''terrifying'' attack on her dog, Zak.
She said in a written statement she had crossed the road to avoid walking past the barking dog, but had not seen it coming until it had the fox terrier by its rump - ''like a lump of meat''.
Mrs Anderson said she kept screaming for help, as the rottweiler attacked a total of three times, and she suffered injuries herself as she tried to protect her pet.
Zak had severe injuries to his rump, rear legs, stomach and genital area.
Despite an estimate of up to $5000 for surgery, she opted not to have ''a very loved pet'' put down.
Mr Neill said the account was backed up by four witnesses who came to her aid, but none of them was named because of pending court action.
He said the rottweiler continued to pose a threat to people and animals and should be classified as menacing.
The classification means the bitch, pregnant at the time of the incident, should be spayed and should be muzzled in public.
The Cades have resisted having her spayed, producing reports that neutering could make some dogs more aggressive and at risk of other health problems.
The men said preparing their case for the hearing had been frustrating because the council had withheld information.
In particular, they had wanted to know more about the incident at the gate earlier that day.
Mr Neill later asked the Cades whether they were prepared to pay half of the $800 vet bill for the dog's injuries, but they refused.
The committee, chaired by Cr Bruce Wilson, will consider its decision in private. Cr Wilson said he hoped to issue a decision before next month's court case.
(Fairfax NZ News - June 12, 2013)
