Dog attack: Animal had attacked before

The dog that attacked a 2-year-old Kawerau girl has previously come to the attention of the council after it was seen breaking through a fence and attacking a neighbour's dog, ripping its ear, council staff say.
Kawerau District Council staff are yet to speak to the owner of the dog that attacked the girl at a Newall St property in Kawerau on Saturday which left the toddler with serious facial injuries.
She had surgery at Whakatane Hospital on Sunday and was released from hospital early yesterday afternoon.
Bay of Plenty District Health Board communications manager Diana Marriott said the girl's family did not want to speak to media.
Kawerau District Council regulatory and planning manager Chris Jensen said he understood the owner had work commitments that had kept him away from home.
The dog was seized and impounded on Saturday and had been at the Kawerau pound since.
The council was in the process of obtaining the owner's consent to have the 4-year-old pitbull american bulldog-cross, named Zac, put down.
"We will be working with police on the matter and, it is fair to say, this dog is one we would prefer not be living within the Kawerau community," Mr Jensen said.
He said the dog had previously come to the attention of the council after a witness saw it break through a fence and attack a neighbour's dog, ripping its ear.
The council investigated and found the dog had not been registered with local authorities after it was moved to Kawerau from Rotorua, where it was registered.
It was declared "menacing" - as is required by law for dogs of predominantly pitbull breed - but no further action was taken because the owner of the injured dog did not wish to lay a complaint.
"Apart from properly noting the transfer and issuing the required menacing notice, from our perspective, there was no further action that we would take," Mr Jensen said.
No charges were laid.
Meanwhile, the owner of the pig hunting dogs that attacked a Reporoa woman recently will be charged.
Barbara Podgajna, a teacher at Reporoa College, was mauled on Settlers Rd near Reporoa.
Rotorua District Council animal control supervisor Kevin Coutts said while they were still completing inquiries into the attack, he was confident the owner would be charged.
The owner of a dog that attacked a 4-year-old girl in Masterton on Saturday is also expected to be charged.
The girl had facial reconstruction surgery after suffering serious facial lacerations from the attack.
The dog's owner, a close family member, has been charged under the Dog Control Act with owning a dog which has caused injury.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of three years' imprisonment, up to a $20,000 fine, or both.
Last week Kawerau woman Liz Smith had her scalp torn off in a vicious attack by an american pitbull.
Ms Smith, who said the dog tore at her scalp, ears, nose and lips, suffered puncture wounds and bruising all over her body and needed surgery.
- additional reporting by APN News & Media.