Owner defends dog that attacked toddler
The owner of a dog that attacked a Christchurch toddler says the family were told to steer clear of the animal – a claim contested by the child’s mother.
Two-year-old Amelia-Jayne Johnson was attacked by the dog outside her house on January 30, suffering a broken tooth and deep cuts around her left eye, nose, mouth and cheek.
The Christchurch City Council seized the dog, described as a staffordshire bull terrier/labrador cross, and is investigating the incident.
The dog owner, who did not want to be named, told Newstalk ZB a friend sometimes took her two dogs for a walk while doing a pamphlet run, using a pram to carry the circulars. The other dog is a black labrador, which Amelia had played with in the past.
She said the mixed-breed dog was not used to children and she could ‘‘count on one hand the amount of times we’ve had children at our house’’.
The owner told Newstalk that her friend had been invited into the house by Amelia’s mum, Keri Morphus, to see some kittens.
‘‘So she went into the house and that was where the critical error was – she left the dogs unattended but attached by a short leash to the pram.’’
The owner said her friend noticed Morphus was taking Amelia outside and raced out, asking her to stay away from the dogs but Amelia had already gone to pat him.
‘‘He was attached to the pram on a really short leash, he couldn’t get away, and a dog gives off certain signs that they’re uncomfortable and they, when they’re attached like that, they’ve got no other way of saying they’re feeling uncomfortable.
‘‘So sadly, unfortunately, that was his way of saying I feel trapped, I can’t get away, and that was when he bit Amelia.’’
The owner told Newstalk she hoped the council would let the dog come home, and she would follow all guidelines they were set. ‘‘He doesn’t fit into the cliche dog that has attacked a child ... He’s desexed, he’s registered … He’s a much loved dog, and we miss him dreadfully. We’ve done our fair share of crying.’’
She said she could ‘‘guarantee’’ there would not be an opportunity for anything like this to happen again.
‘‘I just wish them all the best; I just hope that Amelia heals well.
‘‘We’re extremely apologetic for the situation.’’
Morphus previously said she ‘‘couldn’t stop shaking’’ when the attack happened as ‘‘there was just so much blood gushing out’’.
‘‘I tried to grab the dog off her but it just wouldn’t go. I just ran and got what I could to get the bleeding to stop, then got on the phone to the ambulance.’’
Morphus wanted the dog to be put down.
She did not want to comment further when contacted by Stuff but told Newstalk she was not warned the dog was not good with children until after the attack.
She said Amelia only touched the black labrador and not the dog that attacked her, and that the dogs were not tied to the pram at the time.
Council regulatory compliance head Tracey Weston said the investigation was ongoing.
The dog is currently in council care.