Ōpōtiki District Council dog control staff have confirmed that four dogs that bailed up a woman outside a Ford Street property on December 27 were from the same household as those that seriously wounded a woman in September.

As of this week, 22 dogs and puppies have been uplifted from the property since mid-September.

On September 14, a young woman was hospitalised with serious injuries after being attacked by a group of four dogs.

Emergency services and Ōpōtiki District Council dog control contractors responded to the event on Church Street at around 10.30pm.

Police said dogs continued to rush at police and ambulance staff and members of the public as they attempted to help the victim.

Animal control officers worked with the police to secure and impound the dogs at the Ōpōtiki pound. The owner agreed to surrender the dogs, and they were put down.

Ōpōtiki animal control officers, following up on the incident two days later, discovered another 13 puppies at the property, from two litters, which the owner surrendered to animal control.

The property was re-inspected on September 18 and yet another unregistered dog was discovered and uplifted.

The owner was allowed to keep one elderly dog that was registered and not involved in the attack.

On December 27, a woman in her 60s was badly frightened when she was rushed by four dogs from the same address and made a report to the council’s after-hours service just after 8am while the council offices were closed for the Christmas-New Year break.

Council compliance officer Annette Munday said after-hours contractors followed up at 10.05am and the dogs were no longer at the property.

After the Christmas break, council staff investigated and as of Tuesday four more unregistered dogs have been uplifted and impounded.

The owner has been fined for each unregistered dog and for the unconfined and uncontrolled activity of the dogs.

Ms Munday said the property had adequate fencing.

She said over the two-week Christmas break the after-hours service provider had logged nine dog-related calls, which were all attended to.

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