Doogle News

Dog owners try to cool attack anger
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Dog owners are urging authorities not to over-react amid heated calls for action after a Christchurch toddler was mauled.

Two-year-old Aotea Coxon was savaged by an American Staffordshire terrier-cross in a Christchurch park on Sunday.

She required several hours of surgery and 290 stitches to treat the facial injuries she suffered, and is in hospital in a stable condition.

Aotea's grandmother Arihia Manahia told Campbell Live last night Aotea was talking yesterday morning and her wounds seemed to be healing.

"She sleeps a lot, she's doing well ... there's been a lot of praying and people giving their love and support."

She said that on Sunday, Aotea and another child went to Jellie Park by themselves instead of waiting for her to take them.

"They took off on their own. I asked my daughter where they were, she said 'Oh my God, they've gone to the park'."

The distraught owners of the dog said it escaped from their fenced back yard. They said the animal had never been aggressive before.

Police are considering whether to charge the owners.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday she would be looking at ways of improving and extending dog control laws, and at whether the list of banned breeds could be widened.

She had enormous sympathy for dog attack victims.

"It gives you the creeps to think of dangerous dogs strolling around, ready to pounce on innocent people," she said. "That's why I am more than happy to keep looking at how the law can be improved and how enforcement can be improved."

A breeder of Staffordshire bull terriers, who did not want to be named, said the breed's name was being sullied by the American Staffordshire terrier breed, which is closely related to the banned pitbull.

She said nine times out of 10 dogs attacked only if provoked or pushed into a corner.

"You get the odd rogue dog. But you don't see dogs walking up and down the street looking for children to bite."

The New Zealand Kennel Club said there was a lot of confusion about breeds considered dangerous.

Senior vice-president Martin Hewitt said: "Once you start trying to do breed-specific legislation, you open up a whole can of worms, because where do you stop?"

Most dogs that attacked people were not registered, Mr Hewitt said.

Source: www.nzherald.co.nz

« Back to News