Unregistered dogs rush college pupils

Two dogs have been caught and impounded after they rushed at a group of Masterton schoolchildren.

Masterton District Council spokesman Sam Rossiter-Stead said the unregistered dogs had charged at a group of Chanel College pupils on Thursday morning.

"Police were called to an incident where two dogs were rushing some students.

"We know that they have been getting out regularly as the property is not suitably secure and neither is the garden, and until that is done and there is somewhere suitable where they can't escape they [the owners] won't be getting them back."

The dogs, which were believed to be bull terrier crossbreeds, had displayed "aggressive behaviour" and the council would be talking to the owner, Mr Rossiter-Stead said.

None of the children were injured during the incident.

Council staff had previously been alerted to several issues with the dogs during the past week, he said.

One nearby resident, who did not wish to be named, said the children had been on a regular run through the area when they were rushed by the dogs.

"I don't know exactly what happened but they were very traumatised. I heard the screaming and yelling and I knew something must've happened."

She said she had seen the dogs roaming without their owner several times and had twice contacted the council.

"I'm fed up about it and I've phoned the borough twice. It's about time they did something about the dogs or something will happen one day and it won't be good.

"If you've got a dog you should have it contained."