Pāpāmoa dog attack: Six dogs contained, owners under investigation

Two of the six dogs involved in the Pāpāmoa dog attack. Photo / supplied

Six dogs have been impounded after two people were attacked and bitten in Pāpāmoa last week.

The owner of the dogs has spoken out, saying she was bitten and now fears what will happen to her pets after the incident, for which she blamed herself.

Hato Hone St John was called to Tara Rd about 3pm on Friday and took one patient to hospital, while the other was treated at the scene.

The Tauranga City Council animal services team’s leader, Oscar Glossop, said animal control staff contained and impounded six dogs on Friday.

The dogs remained at the pound.

He said dog owners were responsible for keeping their dogs under control.

“The owners of these dogs were present at the time of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.”

It was too soon to say if the owners would be charged, Glossop said.

A woman who identified herself as the owner of the six dogs told NZME she and her partner were travelling through Pāpāmoa on the way to Wellington when their vehicle’s engine overheated.

They pulled over near Gordon Spratt Reserve and set off walking to get help. The two trusted adult dogs were off-leash and the four puppies were on slip leads.

The woman claimed there was a confrontation with a male stranger on Tara Rd, in which the stranger was bitten by the adult Staffordshire bull terrier cross, then she was bitten by the adult rottweiler.

She feared she may now lose the dogs, which she claimed were all microchipped and registered.

“My dogs are really good dogs. It’s not my dogs’ fault; it’s my fault … they were only trying to protect us.”

She also said she had been charged with assaulting a woman, and claimed this related to an incident while trying to round up the animals.

Police said an 18-year-old woman faced two charges of assault.