A devastated family will appeal against the death sentence imposed on their dog, which killed a cat.
The fox terrier-cross was condemned to death by Wellington District Court Judge Carolyn Henwood this week after its owner, Tracy White, aged 32, a part-time lecturer at Wellington Polytechnic, pleaded guilty to being the owner of a dog that attacked an animal on June 20.
Fining White $400, the judge said she could not find any exceptional circumstances that would prevent her from ordering the destruction of the dog.
White's father, Nick White, said that while his daughter was the registered owner, the dog was a family pet.
The court was told Tracy White had taken the dog to her sister's home in Seatoun, where it attacked and killed a neighbour's cat.
The neighbour, Robert Skipsey, was distraught and took a machete to look for the dog. Police were called.
Judge Henwood said it was a very sad event. The dog had been a family pet with no history of violence.
- NZPA
Wellington family tries to save dog on death row
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.