A Napier couple are appealing the city council's decision to class their dog as "menacing" after animal control staff said it charged and tried to bite them after escaping from its home.
Maverick, a terrior/border/mastiff cross, was classified as menacing in August last year after an animal control officer reported it charged and tried to bite him as he attempted to capture it in his second encounter with the wandering dog.
But owners Selwyn and Bobbi Rowe have appealed the classification saying the behaviour described by the council staff was due to Maverick's fear towards the staff who were trying to capture him.
"How can you accurately assess a dog's behaviour when you are trying to catch it?" Mr Rowe asked in a letter to the council seeking an appeal of the classification.
"We are incredulous that you have made this judgement based upon an opinion of an officer who was trying to catch Maverick possibly after he had been struck by a car."