Owner fights to keep dog that attacked girl

IN THE DARK: Wednesday's Chronicle reported how Sarah Timmins was anxious to learn the fate of the dog that bit her daughter.WGMA10JUN15A001V001

A dog at the centre of an attack on a 10-year-old girl is stuck in a legal limbo.

The female staffy-cross is still at the Wanganui pound after being picked up by animal control on April 23. Earlier that day it bit Jaydene Bullock, as she and a friend walked up the driveway of the house where the dog lived.

The pair were selling chocolates as a fundraiser for their school camp. Jaydene required stitches to her leg.

Jaydene's mother Sarah Timmins told the Chronicle she was upset animal control had not informed her of the fate of the dog.

Yesterday, Wanganui District Council acting customer services manager Bryan Nicholson said the dog could not be returned to its home as the owner had been disqualified from owning a dog.

However, the owner is appealing the disqualification.

"This owner has been disqualified under the Dog Control Act, because she has been infringed on three or more occasions within 24 months," Mr Nicholson said.

"Whether the dog is released from the pound to the owner will depend on the disqualification being upheld or withdrawn."

Mr Nicholson said the animal control officer who dealt with the incident told Mrs Timmins that the dog was in the pound and would update her about the outcome of the disqualification hearing. "The intention of our recently adopted dog control bylaw is to address incidents like this by ensuring dog owners have their dogs on a leash at all times," Mr Nicholson said.