Farm manager ordered to remove dogs after attacks

A Raglan farm manager has been told by the Employment Relations Authority to move his dangerous dogs from a council-owned reserve where he lives after the animals committed at least six attacks.

Since 2001, Dion Gough has been employed by the Waikato District Council to manage Wainui Reserve, a 121.46ha property open to the public. Mr Gough lives at a house provided on the property with his partner and two children.

After a series of dog attacks, the council told Mr Gough to relocate the animals.

Mr Gough disputed the instruction was lawful and reasonable, and took the matter to the Employment Relations Authority.

He keeps three dogs on the property bound by a fence: a dog neo mastiff, Viking; a bitch neo mastiff, Monster, and a rottweiler bitch, Smash.

The authority found the dogs were well cared for and loved family pets, and were valued for their guarding abilities.

It found that since Mr Gough took up residence at Wainui Reserve there had been incidents where dogs rushed, endangered and attacked members of the public, council staff and others.

After one incident, Mr Gough erected warning signs saying guard dogs were on the property. He also raised the fences and put locks on the gates.

One victim gave evidence that the property was not a normal home. "The dogs are guarding a compound."

In February 2004, when 25 school children were visiting the reserve, a rottweiler jumped a fence and ran towards them in attack mode.

The manager of the reserve's nursery chased the dog back to the house wielding a fence post.

He said the incident lasted 5-10 minutes and the dog was trying to round up the children.

The manager made a formal complaint to the council about the incident and other issues relating to Mr Gough's management of the reserve.

He described the dogs as aggressive and intimidating. He had been asked by visitors if the house was a gang headquarters.

One of the rottweilers bit a worker the day after the incident with the children.

Last February Viking pushed through the fence and ran barking and snarling toward a television crew working at the reserve.

The crew laid a complaint, and the director said that if he had had a gun he would have shot the dog.

Mr Gough said in evidence that if his dogs had to go, he and his family would also leave the farm.

The council said: "Council's obligation to the wider community is being affected by its employee's behaviour. The instruction is reasonable because of the history and number of incidents."

It said it was reasonable not to allow more of a fortress to be created around the house. The council was responsible for creating and implementing dog control bylaws and had to lead by example.

Authority representative Janet Scott said the council had a duty to ensure the safety of its workers.

- NZPA