Dog that attacked boy involved in earlier incident

A pitbull that attacked an 8-year-old boy in Porirua on Thursday had previously attacked another child.

Porirua City Council monitoring and compliance manager James Single yesterday said the attack on Gloucester St in Cannons Creek was not the first time the animal was reported to staff.

‘‘Our records show that in May 2019, the then 4-month-old puppy was involved in a previous attack with another pup, also owned by the same person.’’

He said in May the pups were at a temporary address and attacked a boy as he cycled along the footpath near the property. The boy suffered scratches, bites and a ripped shirt.

The animal control officer at the time investigated the incident but no longer worked at the council, Single said.

‘‘Her notes state that at the time of that attack the pup was 4 months of age, as was the other dog. Both pups were not registered. The owner was not aware someone had left the gate open or that the pups had escaped. The injuries to the boy were considered to be on the minor side.’’

On Thursday afternoon, the 8-year-old boy was attacked on the footpath by the dog, which bit the boy on the face and neck. He was taken to Wellington Hospital with moderate injuries, a Wellington Free Ambulance spokeswoman said.

Police and dog control officers also responded to the incident. The dog was seized and impounded.

Single said previously it was decided to warn the owner ‘‘due to the pups’ age, the good standard of fencing, and the fact that the owner did not know the gate was open’’.

‘‘He was instructed to register the dogs, which he did immediately.’’

He said because the animal was still a pup, the officer believed the owner’s claim that the dogs were Staffordshire crosses.

‘‘Now that it’s grown, the dog involved in the attack is clearly identifiable as pitbull and as such will be immediately classified as menacing, as per the requirements of the Dog Control Act.’’

Single said the offending dog and the other dog were impounded on Thursday because they were both unregistered.

‘‘The owner has since paid the registration of the dog not involved in the attack and it is back at his address,’’ he said.

The dog involved in the attack was being held in the pound pending a prosecution of the owner by police.

‘‘It’s likely that the dog will be destroyed due to the seriousness of the attack.’’

Officers would reassess the other dog, but this dog was not involved in Thursday’s attack, Single said.