Man charged after dog attacks nurse

A 67-year-old man has been arrested after a savage dog attacked two people including a nurse making a house call.

The Kaikohe man will appear in Kaikohe District Court on September 16 on two charges of owning a dog which attacked two people on July 9.

The maximum penalty for each charge is three years' imprisonment or a $20,000 fine.

Kaikohe nurse Epi Turner sustained extensive injuries after she was attacked by a pitbull-cross while on a work-related house call.

The dog tore chunks of flesh from her leg and attempted to drag her into a bush before a neighbour ran to her rescue and hit the dog with an axe.

Ten minutes later a teenager sustained hand and leg injuries when he was attacked by a dog.

A large-scale search for the animal resulted in the dog being located at a Kaikohe address several weeks later.

The dog died of abscessed chest injuries while in Kaikohe pound, Far North District Council communications officer Rick McCall said. He was unsure how the dog received its injuries.

Ms Turner underwent surgery to her ankle and was still off work three weeks after the attack.

She had lost feeling in her lower leg and was concerned she may not return to work.

She was said to be considering lodging a private prosecution against the dog's owner.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)