Two dogs put down after vicious attack
Max the 14-year-old poodle had no teeth and was mostly blind and deaf when two pig dogs tore into him in the street.
He died on the way to the vet after the attack in Leithfield, North Canterbury, which was described as ‘‘terrifying and ghastly’’ by the woman who tried to save him. Deborah Joynson Danielsson tried to lift Max up out of reach after the attack began but two of the pig dogs dragged him back.
Max’s owner, Barry Rolton, said his elderly dog had been still very lively and loved to go on walks. He had left him in a friend’s care during a holiday and the dog had died in that friend’s arms.
The owner of the pig dogs, Erin Kate Graham, 30, admitted charges of owning dogs that attacked the woman and the poodle on October 24 last year.
Graham had the two attacking dogs destroyed after the incident and has now been ordered to pay $5047 in fines, emotional harm reparations, reparations for loss and damage, solicitor’s fees for the Hurunui District Council, and court costs.
Some of the money will pay for the rescue dog, a collie-greyhound cross named Bruce, that Rolton bought to replace Max.
He said after yesterday’s sentencing that he felt ‘‘a little bit sorry’’ for Graham. ‘‘This is one of those unfortunate things, but it should not have happened.’’
The sentencing was the first time he had heard how Max was killed, which was ‘‘devastating’’. ‘‘ . . . [Max] was the longest relationship I have had in my life besides my parents,’’ Rolton said.
The attack dogs were a labrador greyhound-mastiff cross named Captain, who was unregistered, and a labrador greyhound-boxer cross n am edKahu.
Graham let four pig-hunting dogs out of their kennel about 7.45am and went inside the house. There was no fencing and the dogs went out onto Terrace Rd.
Three of the dogs went up to Joynson Danielsson, who was walking Max on a lead. They surrounded her and Max, then Captain and Kahu attacked the poodle.
Joynson Danielsson suffered minor injuries before members of the public – including Graham – arrived to help.
Defence counsel Shannon-Leigh Litt handed up letters of apology from Graham to Rolton and Joynson Danielsson.
Christchurch District Court Judge Paul Kellar said there was an obligation on dog owners to ensure their animals did not endanger, injure or cause distress to other animals, or to people.