Five dogs seized from property after complaints

Five dogs have been taken from a Kawakawa property by animal control.

Five dogs have been seized from a Kawakawa property after two were rushing at children on their way to school and one was injured where its collar chain had become embedded in its neck.

All five were unregistered. The dogs were seized from a property on North Rd, between Whiteman Rd and Bay of Islands College, on Friday morning.

Far North District Council animal control officers were called in by police after members of the public complained that two unsecured dogs at the property were rushing at passers-by.

Animal control team leader Ken Thomas said the two dogs were seized because they were aggressive, unsecured and posed a threat to the public. The three other dogs were seized because they were unregistered.

One of the dogs had part of its collar chain embedded in its neck and would be referred to the Bay of Islands SPCA.

Another dog was entangled in its chain and a nearby chain-link fence.

Two dogs were pit bull terrier crosses, two were German short hair pointer crosses and one was a greyhound cattle cross, Mr Thomas said.

The council had yet to decide whether the dogs would be returned to their owner. She was not home when the dogs were seized but had since contacted the council.

Animal control staff were also checking whether the property was in an area where the council's dog control bylaw only allowed two dogs per property.

The dogs would be returned only if the owner could demonstrate they could be contained humanely.

Mr Thomas said good collaboration meant the council and police were able to tackle a public safety and animal welfare problem quickly and effectively.