The Waimakariri Council is under fire for allegedly not doing anything about a pack of five dangerous dogs that terrorised a North Canterbury neighbourhood.
The dogs ended up attacking a woman and her dog while out on a run last week. But the council had multiple complaints before this.
The Mudgeway family lives on a lifestyle block north of Christchurch.
Their peace ended when a pack of five dogs moved in next door attacking their small dog in February, shortly after ripping the udder out of one of their sheep, and then killing their pet goat.
- Woman and pet mauled by five dogs while running in rural Canterbury
- Woman mauled by pack of dogs in Canterbury speaks out on harrowing ordeal
"Where the seven neighbours all came out at once with the commotion, two dogs were attacked, one was injured, I was bitten," John Mudgeway told Newshub.
The Mudgeways lodged a formal complaint with the Waimakarri District council and had two visits from the animal control officer but say he was "useless".
"I started to cry and got really upset of course and I said, 'what's it going to take, is it going to be another child either maimed or killed' and he says: 'oh yeah, it would be something like that that get our attention'" said Gina Mudgeway.
The family heard nothing back.
Neighbours complained about the dogs and went as high up as the mayor's office.
"We still got no response and our worse fears have happened," said John.
That was last week when Larissa Corboy and her puppy were mauled by the same dogs while out on a run.
"Frustrated, angry that again that they've let this get to this point because had've the dogs been dealt with properly at this start, we wouldn't be where we are now," said Corboy.
Newshub contacted the dog owner who didn't want to be interviewed but said the dogs have been euthanized.
"I've put all the dogs down which were like family to me. The victim isn't the only person suffering here."
The Waimakariri District Council told Newshub they received two complaints about the dogs behaviour and but didn't believe they were dangerous or posed a risk to the public.
The Council also says they are satisfied that their response was appropriate.
Not good enough says Larissa Corboy who was hospitalised and off work.
"If this is their approach to dog control, then you wonder how many dangerous dogs are out there," she said.
The Council says four of the five dogs have been destroyed and further action is likely.
Newshub.
