Kaihu dog attack: Impounded dogs to be destroyed after Northland police investigation

Police are investigating the dog attack that killed Kaihu woman Mihiata Te Rore. Photo / Jason Dorday

The three dogs involved in Tuesday’s fatal mauling will be destroyed, Kaipara District Council has confirmed.

Mihiata Te Rore, 62, died after she was attacked while visiting someone she knew at a Kaihu property on State Highway 12 that was home to the dogs.

Police are investigating Te Rore’s death, and on Wednesday called for anyone with information about roaming dogs in the Kaipara settlement to come forward.

During police’s appeal Detective Senior Sergeant Shane Pilmer, of Whangārei CIB, said the three dogs were with animal management.

Kaipara District Council has since confirmed the impounded dogs will be destroyed as soon as police finish their investigation.

Authorities have not responded to questions about the dogs’ breeds.

Tuesday’s fatal attack has prompted people to come forward to share their encounters with roaming dogs in Kaihu.

Auckland man Brandon Tai told the Northern Advocate this week that he was attacked by three dogs near where Te Rore was killed.

He felt guilt at not doing more to report the incident. It is unconfirmed whether the same dogs were involved.

His story and that of others shared by various media organisations has prompted the Kaipara District Council to come under fire.

RNZ reported a Kaihu local, who claimed to have run-ins with the dogs involved in Te Rore’s death, as having warned the council about the canines.

He believed the fatal attack should never have happened, saying dog control had received multiple complaints but failed to act.

Kaipara District Council told the Northern Advocate it received four service requests about the dogs involved in Te Rore’s death.

The first was received in November, then December and again this month.

“Our team responded to each service request on the same day,” a council spokesperson said.

They reported staff as having visited the SH12 property multiple times to speak to the owner, as well as contacting family and iwi liaison.

“When the dogs were seen they were on the property.”

Police cordon off a Kaihu property as part of their investigation into the fatal dog attack. Photo / Jason Dorday

The council spokesperson said staff in December spoke to the owner about keeping the dogs secure and compliance – including the consequences of non-compliance.

Staff visited the property twice this month which included Monday, the day before Te Rore died.

On that visit, council had been unable to talk to the owner or uplift the dogs.

Council did not say why but noted the Dog Control Act sets the requirements around enforcement and the uplift of any dog.

According to the act – which is now under heavy scrutiny – a dog can be uplifted when it is roaming and uncontrolled, posing a threat or nuisance, being actively pursued after an incident, or has entered another person’s property unpermitted.

The council spokesperson said in between the visits, staff carried out multiple patrols in the area to sight any loose dogs – none of which were seen.

Staff also door-knocked every property on Kaihu Wood Rd and spoke to residents about microchipping, registration and keeping dogs secure.

“Kaipara District Council animal management team have been focused on roaming dogs, reducing complaints by 65% over the last two years,” the spokesperson said.

“Dog owners are responsible for their dogs – they have a legal responsibility to look after and control their animals but we also acknowledge that council’s animal control plays an important role in managing risks in the community.”

The council spokesperson said staff were devastated by Tuesday’s incident.

“We have a very small but extremely passionate team covering the whole of the district, and in their role they deal with a wide range of owners and dogs daily, often in complex and challenging situations.”