Paremoremo community alarmed by dog attacks on sheep, warns person could be next

A rural Auckland community wants to see action taken on dog attacks on their sheep. Photo / RNZ, Finn Blackwell

By Finn Blackwell of RNZ

A rural Auckland community wants to see something done about dog attacks on their sheep, raising concerns that a person could be next.

Residents in Paremoremo are sounding alarm bells, saying the risk posed by having a roaming dog in the area is a tragedy waiting to happen.

It is in the heart of idyllic Auckland countryside.

Rolling hills, tall trees, and enough land for grazing sheep.

But in this quiet community, some people were on edge about a roving dog causing problems for residents like Toni Dando and her livestock.

She had lost five sheep over three separate attacks, and wanted the council to act before things got worse.

“We lost one sheep in September last year, and then three sheep later in the year, and then in January of this year, we had another sheep killed.”

Dando reported the attacks to Auckland Council’s animal management team, who told her there was not enough evidence go further.

But she said it was a tragedy waiting to happen.

“My biggest concern is that the dog is going to attack a small child, or anybody, and potentially kill them or badly injure them,” she said.

“I think that’s the big concern for most people in the community.”

One of Toni Dando's sheep. Photo / RNZ

Kathy Gibbs moved from the area last month, but she, too, had her own experience with an attack on her sheep.

“As soon as we’d hear that this particular dog was out, our anxiety levels went through the roof.

“I had a belief that dog control would do something about it and ... very disillusioned.”

She wanted to see the threshold for prosecution lowered.

“Yes, I understand the burden of proof, we have the burden of proof, we have video footage, we have photographs, we have got sightings, we’ve got all sorts of things, and it still does not seem to be enough,” Gibbs said.

“What is it going to take? Is it going to take the dog killing someone?”

And they were not the only ones.

Auckland Council's animal management said it had investigated several complaints of attacks on stock in the area. Photo / RNZ, Finn Blackwell

Another local told RNZ they had been waiting two years for prosecution on a separate case after animals were attacked by a dog on their property.

Auckland Council’s animal management manager, Elly Waitoa, said it had investigated several complaints of attacks on stock in the area.

“Unfortunately, there has been insufficient evidence to positively identify the dogs involved in the attacks, which is required for enforcement action to be taken.

“We have, however, undertaken a range of enforcement actions regarding roaming dogs in the area, and we encourage the public to continue to report roaming dog sightings or dog attacks to the council.”

RNZ attempted to contact a local dog owner in the area; however, they did not respond.

As for Dando, she said she would not replace the ram she lost to a dog, and was keeping watch over the rest of her flock.

- RNZ