“They’ve had a taste for blood; they will hurt somebody else.”
That is the concern of a family whose beloved horse was seriously injured after being attacked by dogs on Pāpāmoa Beach.
Tai Nelson was riding his 14-year-old horse, Hero, between Harrison’s Cut and the Memorial Carpark on Wednesday when two off-leash dogs attacked.
His wife, Amiee Nelson, said her husband - who rides along the beach almost every weekend - was “lucky to be alive”.
She said one of the dogs ran from a distance and bit Hero on the back of the leg as they passed.
Moments later, both dogs began chasing the horse.
Nelson said Tai rode the horse into the water in an attempt to slow the dogs.
But the attack escalated when he and the horse fell into the water.
“The horse was under the water, and the dogs carried on. One dog was on the horse’s throat in the water.”
Nelson said her husband was lucky to escape without injury. It was a “miracle” given the risk of him being crushed or drowned when the horse went under in the water.
She said the attack in the water lasted about 10 minutes, with members of the public eventually stepping in to separate the animals.
One man eventually managed to pull the dogs off and restrain them until Animal Control arrived.
“Those dogs were trying to kill them.”
Nelson said the owners did not intervene, which she believed was because they were afraid of the horse.
In her view: “The dogs wouldn’t listen to them, they had shock collars that didn’t work, and they had absolutely zero control over their dogs.”
Nelson said her husband reported that after the attack, the owners made no attempt to hold their dogs and remained on the beach until Animal Control arrived.
Tai walked the injured horse to the Memorial Carpark, where a vet treated him before he could be transported home.
“It took the vet nearly two hours to stitch him up yesterday.”
She said Hero suffered multiple serious injuries, including at least eight puncture and tear wounds requiring stitches, a drain and antibiotics.
Nelson said Hero is on strict recovery care, including daily wound treatment and pain relief.
She said the vet advised Hero would need to be confined for at least a month, with the full extent of nerve damage still unknown.
Nelson said recovery is expected to take several months and has already cost the family nearly $2000.
Animal control seized both dogs, and the family wanted the owners prosecuted.
In Nelson’s opinion: “We’re hoping that the dogs are destroyed, because they will do this again.
“They’ve had a taste for blood; they will hurt somebody else.”
Nelson said the attack left the whole family shaken.
“It is my husband’s passion. That horse is part of our family; it’s like a child to him.”
She said although Tai was physically unharmed, the mental toll would take time to recover from.
She said they were frustrated by the lack of control some owners had over their dogs in public spaces.
In her opinion, dogs should not be allowed off-leash in public places, and any dog that could not be reliably recalled should be muzzled.
“What’s it going to take for dog owners to realise that it’s their responsibility to control their dog? Lives were nearly lost yesterday, human and animal.”
Nelson said it would be a long road before things returned to normal for the family.
A Tauranga City Council spokesperson said an Animal Services officer attended the scene.
They said both dogs were seized, and an investigation was underway.
The spokesperson asked anyone who witnessed the attack or had information to contact the council on (07) 577 7000.
They reminded dog owners that under the Dog Control Act, dogs must be under control at all times, and owners could be held criminally responsible for their actions.
“If you’re unsure, please keep your dog on a leash and seek advice from a qualified dog trainer or behaviourist.”
Zoe Blake is a multimedia journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post.