Man surrenders dogs which attacked and mauled seal to death

NEW ZEALAND -- The 33-year-old owner of two dogs that savagely killed a seal on Tairua Beach on August 18 has been banned from owning a dog for three years.

Thames-Coromandel District Council spokeswoman Laurna White said the man was also fined $2000 for having unregistered and uncontrolled dogs.

All five of the man's dogs - two of which attacked the seal - were put down.

A witness described seeing the dogs throw the seal around on Tairua Beach and screamed at them from a distance to stop.

White said the council decided against taking the man to court because of the additional cost of proceedings, which would ultimately have achieved similar outcomes.

(Waikato Times - Oct 10, 2014)

Earlier:

• ‘Pit Bull-Type’ Dogs Kill Seal at Pukehina Beach

Photographer captures horrific moment when dog savages baby seal to death

NEW ZEALAND -- Shocking photos of a dog killing a baby fur seal near a popular Auckland beach have dismayed wildlife protectors.

The photos capture the moment a protected kekeno, or baby New Zealand fur seal, was savaged as onlookers tried to scare the dog away.

It is understood the incident happened near Otakamiro Point, at Muriwai, where dogs are prohibited.

Retired landscape photographer Bin Bai and his wife Minghua Yu were at the west coast beach last Friday when Bai witnessed the attack, which lasted two to three minutes.

The latest death takes the number of reported dog attacks on seals to seven nationwide in the last month.

Bai, from Glenfield, was planning to take photos of the sunset when he spotted the female dog start the attack on the baby seal.

Bai has limited English but his son-in-law Jackie Zhou told the Herald on Sunday that the couple were on rocks and too far away to intervene, so yelled and screamed to others on the beach to help.

"My father-in-law decided to record this horrible moment and rushed to put on his longer lens," Zhou said. "They were totally shocked and felt really sorry for the baby seal.

"My mother-in-law has been tearful every time she has told this story to others. She has had trouble sleeping and is thinking about the seal all the time."

A woman and young girl walking along the beach heard Bin's screams and rushed to stop the dog but were too worried for their safety to intervene.

The attack continued with the dog shaking and biting the young seal and carrying it by the throat.

A man finally approached the dog and took the seal from its mouth.

Bin Bai and his wife rushed down to the beach and searched for the seal but it had been washed out to sea. Bai reported the incident to the Department of Conservation and the SPCA.

The Department of Conservation is trying to find the dog's owner and plans to prosecute.

DoC scientist and New Zealand fur seal specialist Laura Boren said seals were common on our beaches and shoreline at this time of year.

"They are newly weaned seal pups and juveniles aged 9 to 10 months and have left their mothers and come ashore as they strike out on their own," she said.

SPCA executive director Bob Kerridge said based on the photos, he believed the dog involved in the attack was a Staffordshire cross (aka PIT BULL).

He described the shocking incident as "very sad news".

"Dogs and wildlife do not mix and dog owners are responsible for keeping their dog under control at all times," he added.

Anyone charged under the Marine Mammals Act with harassing, disturbing, injuring or killing a seal faces a maximum penalty of two years' jail or a fine of up to $250,000.

A dog owner whose dog attacks a seal could also face prosecution.

Anyone with information about the incident, can contact DoC on 0800 DOCHOT (0800 362468) or the Herald on Sunday at news@heraldonsunday.co.nz.

(New Zealand Herald - Oct 5, 2014)

‘Pit Bull-Type’ Dogs Kill Seal at Pukehina Beach

NEW ZEALAND -- Two 'Pit Bull-type' dogs were seen brutally attacking and killing what is believed to be a small fur seal at Pukehina Beach at New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty on Sunday morning, reports SunLive.

Two men with brooms tried to get the dogs off of the seal and referred to it as having been through a “blood bath,” leaving the badly injured animal already “more dead than alive,” according to SunLive.

At first the dogs were thought to be wandering strays. Eastern Waikato Police are crediting an alert member of the public for helping locate the owner of the two Pit Bulls.

Senior Constable Matt Goodman said a number of agencies called in with information in relation to the incident, including the police.

According to the police media release:

"A small seal had been reported by joggers and walkers on the beach in Tairua's inner harbour in the morning and the local Harbour Master had gone down to check it was ok.  "Then about 12.20 pm two Pitt-bull type dogs were seen to attack the seal, causing fatal injuries.”

The report continues, “The animals were seen being put into a car that drove off, but a member of the public quickly relayed the vehicle's registration number to Police."

Armed with that and other information they gained from witnesses at the scene,” It wasn't long before the vehicle owner was located by the police and the male driver confirmed he is the owner of the dogs,” Scoop.co.nz reports.

Police state they have begun an investigation in conjunction with the Department of Conservation and the Thames Coromandel District Council to determine what, if any, charges may be filed.

Under the Marine Mammals Protection Act, penalties range from up to six months' jail or a fine of up to $250,000 for killing marine mammals.

 “Police would like to remind dog owners of their responsibilities for their animals." said Senior Constable Goodman. “The owner has a duty to keep their dog under control and to ensure it does not carry out such an attack.”

Seeing the attack was undoubtedly a traumatic one for onlookers, he said, because a number of the people had interacted with the seal prior to the attack.

Biodiversity Ranger Dan Rapson, of the Department of Conversation, warned that dog owners must ensure their animals are on a leash if they know a seal is on the beach, in order to assure the safety of both the dog and the seal.

“Dogs are obviously curious, he told Sunlive, and they’re attracted to things like seals; and sometimes a big, healthy seal can turn around and attack a dog.”

(Opposing Views - Aug 21, 2014)