A man and a woman in Hakaru, near Kaiwaka, were attacked by a group of dogs on Settlement Road in a violent incident that left both with serious injuries. They suffered multiple puncture wounds and are expected to face a long recovery.

The man who came to the rescue of the mauled women also sustained injuries.

The attack occurred on Saturday morning while the woman was painting at the back of her rural property. Four dogs broke through a fence and attacked her. She managed to push them away and escape to her deck while suffering severe bleeding. Despite using towels to stem the blood loss, she struggled to control the bleeding.

A neighbour rushed to help and attempted to stop her bleeding with a makeshift tourniquet. However, the dogs returned and attacked him as well. Emergency responders from Hato Hone St John Ambulance treated the man at the scene, while the woman was airlifted to Whangārei Hospital by the Northland Rescue Helicopter.

According to her family, she sustained extensive injuries, including severe bruising, puncture wounds, and torn flesh. Due to the risk of infection, only a portion of the wounds could be stitched.

Kaipara District Council’s animal control officers identified and impounded the four unsecured dogs involved in the attack. An investigation has been launched, but it remains unclear whether any or all of the dogs have been destroyed.

For years, locals and neighbours of the property where the dogs were kept had repeatedly asked for help from Animal Control, fearing that a serious injury or fatality was inevitable. Residents say the dogs frequently escaped and roamed the street, stopping traffic and intimidating, chasing, and scaring members of the community. Despite numerous complaints, they claim that little action was taken to prevent the attack.

The roaming dogs

This incident highlights a recurring issue where irresponsible ownership, rather than the animals themselves, is often to blame. The owners of these dogs have failed both their animals and their community by not ensuring they were properly contained and managed.