Six dogs impounded after attack injures two

Two of the six dogs involved in the Papamoa dog attack. Photo / NZME

Six dogs have been impounded after two people were attacked and bitten in Pāpāmoa last week.

The owner of the dogs has spoken out, saying she was bitten and now fears what will happen to her pets after the incident, for which she blamed herself.

Hato Hone St John was called to Tara Rd about 3pm on Friday and took one patient to hospital, while the other was treated at the scene.

The Tauranga City Council animal services team’s leader, Oscar Glossop, said animal control staff contained and impounded six dogs on Friday.

The dogs remained at the pound.

He said dog owners were responsible for keeping their dogs under control.

“The owners of these dogs were present at the time of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.”

It was too soon to say if the owners would be charged, Glossop said.

A woman who identified herself as the owner of the six dogs told NZME she and her partner were travelling through Pāpāmoa on the way to Wellington when their vehicle’s engine overheated.

They pulled over near Gordon Spratt Reserve and set off walking to get help. The two trusted adult dogs were off-leash and the four puppies were on slip leads.

The woman claimed there was a confrontation with a male stranger on Tara Rd, in which the stranger was bitten by the adult Staffordshire bull terrier cross, then she was bitten by the adult rottweiler.

She feared she may now lose the dogs, which she claimed were all microchipped and registered.

“My dogs are really good dogs. It’s not my dogs’ fault; it’s my fault … they were only trying to protect us.”

She also said she had been charged with assaulting a woman, and claimed this related to an incident while trying to round up the animals.

Police said an 18-year-old woman faced two charges of assault.

6 comments

Dogs off leash

Posted on 20-11-2025 17:01 | By FRANKS

...finish of story....


dogs

Posted on 20-11-2025 19:57 | By peter pan

Sorry but i maintain that all dogs of this type should be muzzled when in public places ,it could have been a child .


Happening Too Often

Posted on 21-11-2025 07:18 | By Thats Nice

Yes, good idea peter pan and charge the owner with gbh.


Maybe...

Posted on 21-11-2025 12:53 | By morepork

... it is fair to question why anybody living in a domestic community needs to have more than 2 dogs?
We've heard the arguments about dangerous breeds (probably unfair because some of those dogs are sweethearts) , about needing to muzzle dogs, and so on, and it all comes down to the following sentence from the article:
"He said dog owners were responsible for keeping their dogs under control."
It's no good making excuses for the dog's behaviour; you failed to control it and may thereby have sentenced it to death.
ANYBODY can have as many dogs as they like and owners don't have to be licensed or even show basic competence in controlling their dog.
The results are unsurprising.
Dog's (even little chihuahuas and poodles) have evolved from wolves. A wolf pack has its own discipline. A human owner who loves their dog provides that factor.


Dogs on the loose

Posted on 21-11-2025 13:25 | By Leprechaun

The dogs are not to blame of course.
The dogs should not be returned to the owner under any circumstances.
I suggest re-homing or sadly euthanising.
Dogs NOT on a leash, the owner should be charged.
In public ALL dogs should be muzzled, that would eliminate all dog bites.


@ Leprechaun

Posted on 22-11-2025 22:40 | By Yadick

Well said. I'm an absolute dog lover and always have been. Unfortunately these dogs, I agree, should be euthanized. The owners no matter what, should heavily charged.
Morepork is 100% correct when he states:
. . . it all comes down to the following sentence from the article:
"He said dog owners were responsible for keeping their dogs under control."
It's no good making excuses for the dog's behaviour; you failed to control it and may thereby have sentenced it to death.


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