The victim of a recent dog attack in Ōpōtiki sought a stronger dog control policy at a council meeting this week.

Awhina Kurei was attacked by two dogs in Princess Street on Wednesday last week. The dogs were already known to council as menacing dogs and had bitten twice previously.

The owners had been issued five infringement notices and dog control staff had requested police assistance to visit the property.

Kurei received three bites to her legs and says she has lost the sense of safety she formerly felt on the streets of her hometown.

“I stand before you today as a proud Ōpōtiki uri (decendant), raised and nurtured in the safe streets of this community... that sense of safety has changed,” Kurei told Ōpōtiki District Council on Tuesday.

The council was hearing submissions on the renewal of its dog control policy.

It received eight submissions that were generally supportive of the policy, but improved public safety was a key theme.

Kurei said control measures needed to be tightened.

“Because behind every dog control statistic is a whānau making decisions about whether it’s safe to walk down their own street, visit their own relatives, focus on their wellbeing or let their children and mokopuna play outside.”

The issue is not only in the Ōpōtiki township, but in rural areas. She knows of several incidents in Te Kaha.

“The same issues are happening there. I know of at least seven whānau who have been bailed up by dogs, including myself. Some whose calves [legs] were torn up by dogs that were already known to be aggressive, and some whose dogs have bitten four times before something was done with them.”

Coast Māori ward councillor Pāpā Wharewera acknowledged Kurei’s “articulate and moving presentation”.

“The attack that occurred was by dogs known to council. The dogs had bitten twice before, yet an attack occurred again. Nothing in [this policy] gives me confidence that we are addressing the fact that there are dangerous dogs or that they are being dealt with.”

Regulatory manager Jessica Hunter said both dogs had been labelled as menacing.

She said the property was fenced and the dogs were required to be muzzled when taken out in public.

“As it turns out, those dogs were able to jump the fence.”

One of the dogs had since been impounded but the other ran away.

Under the Dog Control Act, dog control staff were able to uplift and impound dogs if they bit someone, she said.

Having a dog euthanised was a time consuming process that involved an investigation having to take place.

“It’s much more difficult for us. We can’t blanket euthanise any dog that has made an attack ... The amount of work involved is enormous.”

With two full-time staff covering a large district with 1732 registered dogs, she said council staff were severely under-resourced.

“Our preference is for owners of dogs that have attacked to surrender the dogs to us. It’s a much simpler process.”

Many owners just wanted their dog back no matter what they had to do.

“So, we go through a process of classifying a dog as menacing or dangerous. Then there are requirements in terms of muzzling and fencing.”

There are 53 classified menacing dogs in the district.

Chief executive Stace Lewer said there were constraints through the Dog Control Act and the Government had indicated it would look at reviewing the legislation.

“It may result in more favourable outcomes for councils and more ability for councils to take a bit more of a hard line without having to jump through a lot of hoops.”

Hunter said the two animal control officers “put their heart and soul into controlling dogs and rehoming them”.

“They can’t be everywhere at once,” she said.

Over the past year they had impounded 200 dogs for a variety of reasons, with 74 rehomed out of the district, 40 returned to their owners, and 75 destroyed. That was 110 fewer than were destroyed in the previous year.

Mayor David Moore said prosecutions of dog owners would send a message to dog owners who flouted the law. There had been no prosecutions in the past year.

“I do believe there have been some cases where there should have been over the last few years.

“It’s very time consuming and it’s frustrating, but it sends a very clear message.

Moore said he didn’t think adding one more person to the team would make much difference.

“Every department needs more staff,” he said.

“It’s a matter of doing something different.”

The council agreed to get together for a workshop on animal control to look into a solution.