More than 300 pets attacked in three years

There have been more than 300 dog attacks on pets in Tauranga City in the past three years - 83 of which have happened in the past nine months.

These latest figures follow Thursday's article about a dog attack which nearly killed a small bichon poodle.

Judi Casey had arrived at Memorial Park to take her dog, Misty, for a walk last Saturday but had scarcely made a few metres before a black border collie bounded out of the bushes and began mauling Misty.

The attack left Miss Casey "very traumatised" and resulted in more than four hours of surgery for Misty, who had been seriously injured.

A bystander helped rescue Misty and took down contact details of the offending dog's owner, who put the dog in the back of his car and left.

Figures released to the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend showed a total of 316 cases of dogs attacking domestic animals in the past three years.

Tauranga City Council animal services team leader Brent Lincoln said a decision was expected to be made early next week regarding the future of the offending dog in the case of Misty.

"We are holding the dog in the pound over the Easter weekend.

"We will make a decision on Monday and go from there."

The council declined a Bay of Plenty Times Weekend request to take a photograph of the offending dog, citing it was still the subject of an ongoing investigation.

The council has the power to impound a dog involved in an attack while it investigates the incident.

The council can also liaise with police to lay criminal charges in some cases, which can lead to prosecution and a court process if the owner is not co-operative.

The council can also euthanise the animal with the owner's consent or if ordered to do so by the court. In non-attack cases of impoundment, dogs can be released back to their owner with or without fees.

Meanwhile, the owner of an 11-year-old whippet mauled by another dog in February said there had been no further sightings of the animal since it escaped a council trap earlier this year.

The whippet, named Devo, was also saved by a bystander when it was attacked by two dogs in Cambridge Rd in February.

The woman, who spoke on condition she was not named, told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, she believed the dog responsible for mauling Devo was a female tan pit-bull crossbreed.

"Thankfully Devo has made a good recovery, as the vet told us he was lucky to keep a leg."

The capture of the accomplice dog led Tauranga City Council staff to a number of other unregistered dogs and their owners, but council staff could not find the attack dog, she said.

"It's a very unsatisfactory situation as, until the dog and its owner can be located, no one can be held responsible for Devo's injuries, and we're also about $1800 out of pocket," she said.