Dog owners 'distraught' over attack on 3-year-old boy

NEW ZEALAND -- The owners of two dogs that mauled a little boy in Queenstown this week are ''distraught'', his mother says.

The attack on the 3-year-old occurred outside a property in Herries Lane, Lake Hayes Estate, about 4.45pm on Tuesday.

He was rushed to Lakes District Hospital for treatment to three leg lacerations, two of which needed several stitches.

The boy's mother, who did not want to be identified, said in a statement released by the Queenstown Lakes District Council that the dogs' owners had been ''kind and co-operative''.

''They are distraught about what has happened.

''We hope that no-one else has to go through something like this - it's been a ghastly experience. 'I would hate to see something like this repeated in our lovely community, and hope this sends a message to dog owners.''

Senior Constable Chris Blackford, of Queenstown police, told the Otago Daily Times the boy had run away ''yelling'' from a barking dog.

He then fell over, and was bitten on one leg by both dogs.

Council spokesman Andy Tebay said the dogs, a Rottweiler and a Labrador Retriever mix, were impounded immediately after police informed the council of the attack on Tuesday evening.

They would remain impounded until the council had completed an investigation.

Possible outcomes included the issuing of an infringement notice, classification of the dogs as menacing or dangerous, prosecution of the owners, and the destruction of either or both dogs, he said.

(New Zealand Herald - Nov 6, 2014)