Alleged vicious dog held by Auckland Council

A dog that allegedly attacked a woman in Warkworth in late January remains in an Auckland Council shelter.

Council animal management manager Nikki Marchant-Ludlow says a file has been put together on the incident and sent to Council’s legal team for review. It will be up to the team to make a decision on whether or not the owner of the dog is prosecuted.

The German Shepherd cross was seized following an attack that hospitalised Joy Henry for three days and took her off work for a fortnight. She says she was visiting an acquaintance at her house, when she went to pat the dog.

“I’d patted it before without any problems, but this time it launched at me and took a big piece of flesh out of my face that required stitches,” she says. “The dog only attacked once, but it was very scary.”

Joy says although the dog was on a chain, the property was not fenced, and her flatmate reported the incident to Council the following day.

Nikki says if there is a prosecution, a judge will make the final ruling on whether or not the dog should be put down.

There are six registered dangerous dogs in north Rodney.

Nikki says anyone with an urgent concern about a dog should call the animal management team on 0800 462 685.