Appeal to keep dog denied

By WAYNE THOMPSON

Brian Hill's desire to show he is a "good dog owner" must wait for at least a year.

His appeal against an Auckland City Council ban on his registering an american pit bull was dismissed yesterday.

He has 14 days to find a new home for Rose, the dog who has lived with him for five months.

"Lots of people can give her a good home. But not as good as I'd give her. I've always been a good dog owner," said Mr Hill, close to tears.

But the council disagreed, saying he was not considered a competent dog owner.

It classified him as a probationary dog owner - meaning he cannot register a dog in his name but, technically, stopping him from caring for any dog until January next year.

The council ban resulted from Mr Hill's being jailed after his american staffordshire bull terrier, Joey, attacked 7-year-old Carolina Anderson a year ago in Coxs Creek Reserve.

Mr Hill was sentenced to two months' jail, with his friend, Thomas Owen, who also received the council ban.

The father of the mauled girl, John Anderson, declined yesterday to comment on the ban.

The council regulatory subcommittee said its reasons for upholding the probationary classification included:

* The serious nature of the offence.

* Mr Hill did not show that he was likely to take any specific action to prevent further offences if in control of another dog.

* He did not appear to be concerned with addressing the community issues regarding dog ownership and appeared to have replaced the offending dog with another of the same breed.

* He had not attended a dog education programme since the attack on Carolina.

The animal control officer's report said Joey was destroyed after causing "horrific injuries with physical and emotional consequences for the child, which will require years of surgical and medical intervention".

Mr Hill said he had inherited Rose from a friend who could no longer look after her.

He denied a complaint made to the council that Rose had barked aggressively and rushed at a neighbour's dog while being led along the path to the Coxs Creek Reserve.

Mr Hill said the council ban was prompted by his applying for renewal of registration of Rose.

"I didn't like her to be unregistered. But I should not have said anything. I could have been sneaky and still have her without anyone knowing."

Mr Hill said that when the council refused registration his mother tried to help by registering Rose in her home city of Whangarei.

But Mr Hill said he asked her to cancel registration yesterday.

The council said Rose should live at the registration address.