An Invercargill dog owner could be sent to prison because of a dog attack on two women last month.
The city council has decided to prosecute the owner.
Chief executive Richard King said the attack on the women - one of whom was bitten severely - was too serious to be dealt with by an infringement notice.
The owner will face three charges, the most serious of which carried a term of imprisonment.
In a separate incident, the owner of a dog that attacked a courier driver will be dealt with by way of an infringement notice and a $200 fine.
Mr King said the council was taking a hard line, and all dog owners would be visited by a council officer in the coming months.
