4 September 2024
Media: Rotorua Daily Post
Topic: Sunset Road dog attack
Enquiry
Apologies for the late email but we have been advised by police about a serious dog attack on Sunset Rd that left a woman with critical injuries.
We believe Animal Control has been contacted.
Can you please advise any details of what happened and any outcome from the council's perspective. Can you also advise what type/breed of dogs were involved and if they were registered. Also, if charges have been laid as yet.
Follow-up enquiry:
I am following the story about a dog attack on Sunset Rd yesterday.
I have spoken to one man who was attacked by three dogs on Sunset Rd opposite Sunset Primary School about two months ago. I have also spoken to a woman who reported three dogs attacking a man on Sunset Rd opposite Sunset Primary School about two months ago. It is potentially the same incident.
The man's comments:
The man said he walked past a property on Sunset Rd opposite Sunset Primary School and three dogs "snuck up" on him and "buried their teeth into me".
One dog was black and white and the other two dogs were brown. He described them as medium-sized and were mixed breed.
He managed to get away after kicking one of them. He was left with "holes" in his leg, gouges on his bottom and under his arm.
The man went past the property later that day and saw dog control were parked there. He said he went over and reported the attack and gave them his contact details.
One dog was black and white and the other two dogs were brown. He described them as medium-sized and were mixed breed.
He said he never heard back from dog control.
The man said the three dogs who attacked him could possibly be the same dogs who attacked the person on Tuesday.
“Why have a dog control ... if that’s what happens? They’ve got to do something about it, don’t they?”
The woman's comments:
The woman said she called dog control a couple of months ago after she saw three dogs attack a man walking down the footpath opposite Sunset Primary School.
She believed they could be the same dogs who attacked the person on Sunset Rd in Rotorua yesterday.
The woman described the dogs as medium to large in size, and they appeared to be American Bulldog crosses. One was mainly white with brown patches and the other two were possibly the same colour.
She said the man “luckily” managed to get away but the dogs “went for his hands and were jumping on him”.
She sent me the attached photo of the property where she saw the dogs come from who attacked the man. I don't have an address number sorry.
Questions:
Can the council confirm it received a report of a dog attack at this property approx two months ago?
What did the council do in response to this attack?
Is it the same property involved in the dog attack yesterday?
How many reports has the council received about dog-related incidents at this property?
These questions are on top of what my colleague Kelly sent yesterday.
Response
From Rotorua Lakes Council Group Manager Community and District Development – Jean-Paul Gaston:
As this is an ongoing investigation we cannot discuss details of the incident. However, I can confirm that Animal Control were called to an incident on Sunset Road yesterday afternoon, the team is working with the owner of the dogs that are alleged to have taken part and they are now being held by Animal Control. We have also been in regular contact with the injured person’s whānau.
Although we cannot comment further on the actual incident it is a timely reminder of the importance of good dog ownership and that dogs must be under the control of their owners at all times. All dogs are capable of attacking under the right circumstances.
Follow-up response:
I can confirm that the council has received a report about the alleged attack. The investigation is still ongoing, so we can’t discuss any details or whether it’s linked to another investigation.
I want to stress the importance of responsible dog ownership. Dogs must always be under their owner's control, as any dog can potentially attack people or animals if not properly managed.
Although we cannot comment further on the actual incident it is a timely reminder of the importance of good dog ownership and that dogs must be under the control of their owners at all times. All dogs are capable of attacking under the right circumstances.
