Carolina happy to be back home

By REBECCA WALSH

Carolina Anderson is in good spirits and happy to be home with family and playmates.

The 7-year-old, who has spent nine days in hospital and undergone nearly 12 hours of surgery to repair the damage to her face after a vicious dog attack, is enjoying some quiet time with family and friends.

"It was wonderful," said her father, John Anderson, of bringing his daughter home on Saturday afternoon.

"It's nice to be back in our own environment, for all of us, and to have a bit of normality again because we are living in a state of unreality really still.

"She's happy to be at home. She's in good spirits. So that's very positive for us."

Carolina, who was the fourth child to be attacked by a dog this year, has become the face of moves to toughen dog control laws.

On Wednesday Mr Anderson will travel to Wellington to talk to politicians and show them graphic images of his daughter immediately after the attack at Coxs Bay Reserve in Westmere on January 31.

But first the weekend was spent relaxing with good friends and Carolina's playmates.

"We had a quiet time and a quiet meal. Carolina had a couple of children she wanted to play with and wanted to see ... it was a nice, quiet evening in our home environment."

The Bayfield School pupil is still on pain killers but is healing well. Most of her stitches have been removed although bandages still cover the skin grafts.

She cannot play outside in the sun because of the skin grafts and scars that cover her face.

"We understand she won't be at school for three or four weeks ... " The family were looking forward to the arrival of Carolina's grandmother from Italy at the end of the month.

On Tuesday, she will be examined by eye specialists at Auckland Hospital and in a couple of weeks may have a skin-stretching operation around her cheek and scalp. Mr Anderson, who plans to speak to "any parliamentarians who wish to come along" on Wednesday, will also be showing photos of Carolina immediately after the dog attack "before she was stitched up and before the operations took place".

"Part of it is to show what a dog attack does to a child's head. They are incredibly shocking and these images are not for the general public.

"I want the politicians to see first hand what none of us ever see and we hope that will make people realise it's not as benign as what you see after people have been treated in hospital."

Prime Minister Helen Clark is willing to meet Mr Anderson when he comes to Parliament on Wednesday.

"All New Zealanders are very shocked by what has happened to his daughter and if there are holes in the law we need to fix them," she said.

Mr Anderson was keen to hear the views of all those groups that have some involvement with children's welfare and that dealt with dogs on the frontline - from the Medical Association and Federated Farmers to the Law Society and the PPTA.

It was vital the issue was kept alive to put pressure on the Government "about what they are going to do and when they are going to do it".

* Auckland police are standing by their decision to delay the destruction of Joey - the dog that attacked Carolina Anderson - after threats of legal action by a Sunday newspaper. On Friday night police called off Joey's destruction just minutes before the lethal injection was to be administered.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said she had received an indication from the Sunday Star-Times that it would consider using court action to delay the destruction until it could photograph the dog.

The dog was put down on Saturday morning after the paper gave an assurance court action would not occur.

Yesterday the Sunday paper denied it had threatened any court action but Ms Hegarty stood by her comments.

Meanwhile, three pitbull-cross dogs were shot dead at the weekend by an animal control officer after they attacked a cow at a Manukau farm and then turned on him.

More than 80 sheep at the farm had already been killed or mauled by dogs the previous week.

Herald feature: When dogs attack

How you can help

A trust fund has been opened for 7-year-old dog attack victim Carolina Anderson. You can send a cheque to: Carolina Anderson Trust Account, BNZ, PO Box 46-294, Herne Bay, or donate over the internet to BNZ account number 020 248 000 3002-000.

The Herald is backing an appeal to raise money for a $150,000 operating-room microscope for Middlemore's plastic surgery unit. The microscope is essential in minute plastic surgery work such as reattaching nerves. Middlemore has two, used on Carolina Anderson and the victims of the Pipiroa sword attack, but they need replacing. Donations can be sent to: The Microsurgery Appeal, Editorial Department, New Zealand Herald, PO Box 706, Auckland.