Dog maul town's 'hideous' problem

Peter Tomuri, Jan Bell and Clem Bell. Photo / Alan Gibson

Residents in a Kawerau street where a toddler was viciously savaged on Saturday afternoon have spoken out against what they say is a "hideous" dog problem plaguing the town.

The attack, which came just hours after another little girl was mauled in Masterton, has also fuelled debate over whether dangerous breeds should be banned.

Newall St residents Clem and Jan Bell, and Peter Tomuri, were yesterday unsurprised a dog, believed to be a pitbull, ripped at the face of a 2-year-old girl just a few doors from their homes.

Mr Bell was recently attacked while out running in Kawerau, while Mrs Bell and Mr Tomuru have had other run-ins in their street, where two dogs, one a pitbull, were seen wandering without collars yesterday.

"It's hideous and it's widespread - the council really needs to do something about it," Mrs Bell said.

Kawerau mayor Malcolm Campbell defended the council's dog control team and said the town was not the only community faced with the problem. "If any residents have got concerns about wandering dogs, they should be phoning the council," Mr Campbell said.

"Obviously a dog control service can't be everywhere at once, but if I see a wandering dog I just tell my staff.

"There are 1200 registered dogs in Kawerau, which is up there with the highest rates in the country, but not all of the majority of the owners are good - it's always those few bad owners letting the other side down."

Mr Campbell could not say whether the dog who attacked the 2-year-old would be destroyed. She had to undergo facial surgery at Whakatane Hospital yesterday morning.

The circumstances of the attack were in many ways similar to the Masterton incident.

Neither dog had shown any problems in the past, and in both cases the girls were visiting relatives with their parents, who were too upset to speak to the Herald yesterday.

The owner of the Masterton bull mastiff is facing charges.