4 May 2016

Three dogs attack elderly woman

11:49 am on 4 May 2016

The Christchurch City Council has seized three dogs after they attacked an elderly woman.

A St John spokesperson said the woman, who is in her 70s, was taken to Christchurch Hospital with serious injuries.

170414. Photo Diego Opatowski / RNZ. Christchurch Hospital main Entrance

The woman was taken to Christchurch Hospital. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

They were called to a house in Spreydon just before 4pm yesterday.

The council said the three dogs, which it describes as Shar Pei Collie crosses, will be held until a decision on prosecution is made.

The attack comes as calls mount for the government to enforce the neutering of menacing dogs.

A number of people have been attacked by dogs in recent weeks, including a young boy, a pregnant woman, another elderly woman and a 16-year-old boy who suffered serious injuries when he was attacked by a three-year-old pitbull-boxer cross in Tokoroa.

Jim Morgan, 92, and his dog Sandy were attacked by an American bulldog while out walking in Kaikohe last month. Mr Morgan later joined calls for councils to do more about vicious dogs.

Auckland Council is taking steps to address the issue by granting an amnesty, where owners of unregistered dogs classified as menacing can register them for free until 30 June - and the council will also waive the $300 fine for not having registered earlier.

Once the amnesty ends, though, the council will begin a widespread enforcement campaign, seizing any remaining unregistered dogs and fining their owners.

New Zealand Institute of Animal Control Officers president Les Dalton has called on other councils to also offer an amnesty.

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