Friendly pit bull attacked with scalding water

A young pit bull dog has had a boiling substance poured on its back in Whangarei, in an apparent unprovoked backlash against the breed.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals manager Francine Shields said the offender appeared to have gone into a panic over recent reported pit bull attacks and taken it out on the dog, named Flash.

He was found near where a pit bull attacked a family's pet huntaway dog in Whangarei last weekend.

"Only a small minority of dogs are aggressive. This one is quite a nice little dog," she told the Northern Advocate.

A veterinarian estimated the injuries happened three days ago and said the raw scald wound would never grow hair again.

Flash, aged about one, was wearing a collar but was unregistered and did not have a microchip identifying his owner.

The breed had a tendency to be aggressive but with training and socialisation they could be good family dogs, vet Jayne Greening said.

Ms Shields said that the offender could face prosecution if caught.

- NZPA