Dog made one too many bites

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 4

Dog made one too many bites

PA Tauranga A Dobermann dog, the subject of two charges against a Mount Maunganuf housewife, roamed quickly among counsel in the District Court at Tauranga on Tuesday before being ousted by the Judge. Judge Wilson allowed the defendant, Sandy Rahera Ellis, into the dock, but told her, in no uncertain terms, that the Dobermann would have to wait outside. ’ Ellis, aged 32, pleaded guilty to keeping an unregistered dog and allowing it at large without a muzzle when she knew the animal was dangerous. Ellis was convicted and fined $l5 for not registering the dog and fined a further $4O for not muzzling it. “Every dog is entitled to one bite,” the Judge

told Ellis.“ Yours has Had two.? He said that if the Dobermann did any more “damage” it would be destroyed. Sergeant Ron Lynch said the black-and-tan Dobermann bit a pedestrian on the footpath outside Ellis’s house on November 5 last year. The police were called and warned Ellis to keep the dog under control. It was discovered then the the Dobermann was not registered. A month later the dog roamed on to a neighbouring property and attacked and bit a person there, Sergeant Lynch said.

The Dobermann was then impounded. Ellis said she had not been present during either incident. She said the dog had not been registered because it had been ill and things were “touch and go.” •