Dog Still Considered Risk in New Zealand

From New Zealand:

Wanaka dog still considered a risk

The owners of a pit bull-type dog deemed dangerous are "terribly disappointed" the classification has not been lifted following a recent appeal, family member Gill Lucas, of Wanaka said yesterday.

Queenstown Lakes District Council independent commissioners Sally Middleton and David Clarke have said if Bella, an 18-month-old Neapolitan mastiff-pit bull cross, attended dog obedience classes on a regular basis for up to two years, her behaviour could "potentially be modified and changed".

But on evidence presented at the hearing and in subsequent conversations with experts, they felt there a "real possibility" Bella could inflict serious injury on someone.

"We as commissioners seek to minimise that risk while Bella undergoes more training and until it can be firmly established she no longer poses a risk," they said.

The classification means Bella must continue to be kept in an enclosed yard and be muzzled and on a lead in public.

The council imposed the dangerous classification following an attack by Bella on an elderly visitor to Wanaka in December.

Lakes Environmental staff submitted the attack and the harm caused to the unnamed victim were at the lower end of the scale - the dog jumped at the woman, causing a small hole in her jersey but not breaking the skin - but Bella's subsequent display of "fear aggression" at the pound caused considerable concern to observers.

The commissioners based their decision on information provided by dog trainer Gary Wulff and Christchurch animal behaviouralist Julie Donovan.

Both Mr Wulff and Ms Donovan were of the opinion Bella's training was not sufficient to remove a dangerous dog classification or to rehabilitate her. The commissioners considered Bella was still a risk.

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“Lakes Environmental staff submitted the attack and the harm caused to the unnamed victim were at the lower end of the scale - the dog jumped at the woman, causing a small hole in her jersey but not breaking the skin - but Bella's subsequent display of "fear aggression" at the pound caused considerable concern to observers.”

This is a little ridiculous seeing, as the dog didn’t “attack” the woman in my opinion. If the dog wanted to bite her it probably would have and of course the dog exhibited “fear aggression” at the pound—it was at the freaking pound!