Distraught dog owner blames himself for seal attack

Lossie's attack on a baby fur seal at Muriwai Beach. Photo / Bin Bai

Seal attack dog owner fined $1000 and faces having to put down his pet

A devastated dog owner says he has himself to blame for the canine's slaying of a protected fur seal.

Neil Russell Morris last week pleaded guilty to owning the staffordshire cross, named "Lossie", that killed the seal at Muriwai Beach, on Auckland's west coast, last September. He was fined $1000 and an order was made for the destruction of the dog.

Morris told the Herald on Sunday he took responsibility for the plight of the once-stray dog he saved from a local swamp five years ago.

"It is my fault. In my heart I am crying inside," he said.

Morris, 52, was collecting mussels on the rocks when his dog walked ahead of him to an area where dogs are banned.

The dog then attacked the pup on the water's edge.

Neil Morris rescued Lossie from a swamp five years ago. Photo / Michael Craig

Photographer Bin Bai, standing on the rocks above, captured the attack which ended in the fur seal's death.

Morris was located after the Herald on Sunday published several of the photos.

Morris said he was a loving dog owner. He was not aware a seal was on the beach and Lossie had not attacked anything before.

In court it was revealed the attack lasted several minutes.

A witness tried to stop the attack and to alert Morris but could not get his attention, as he was some distance away gathering shellfish.

Morris later told police he was not aware of the attack until he heard witnesses screaming. He took the unconscious seal pup from the staffordshire cross and carried it up the beach, placing it in a cave. He then took both his dogs home.

The mortally injured seal pup stopped breathing and died soon after.

Department of Conservation spokesperson Nick Hirst said the fine and destruction order was a warning to dog owners to keep their animals on a leash.