In a tragic incident that unfolded more than two years ago, a five-year-old girl was left severely injured after being attacked by a Black Russian terrier while visiting the home of dog breeders Richard Malkin and Sheree Kearney. The attack, which occurred while the child was with her mother and grandmother, has left lasting physical and emotional scars, despite the girl’s physical recovery.
Details of the Attack:
The mother described the harrowing moment when the dog began biting her daughter. “I feared she’d lost half of her face,” she said, recounting how her daughter screamed for help as the dog relentlessly attacked her legs and hands. Despite the breeders’ attempts to control the animal, the dog, named Echo, broke free and went straight for the young girl.
The mother recounted how her daughter was lifted off the ground during the attack, and her grandmother managed to pry the dog’s mouth open and remove the child’s hand from its grip. The girl was later hospitalized with serious wounds, which left visible scars on her legs. The event has haunted the mother, who still relives the experience, questioning what more she could have done to protect her child.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings:
The dog was euthanized the following day by the breeders, who acknowledged the incident and expressed remorse. In the Tauranga District Court, Malkin and Kearney pleaded guilty to charges of owning a dog that attacked and caused serious injury to a child. The mother read a powerful victim impact statement in court, expressing her anger at the breeders’ failure to intervene during the attack.
She pointed out that, despite following the breeders’ instructions to ensure the dogs were contained, Echo somehow escaped and attacked her daughter. Kearney and Malkin admitted that the latch lock on one of the doors may have been the cause of the escape but maintained they had been responsible dog owners prior to the attack.
Sentencing and Consequences:
The court heard that the breeders had followed protocols to secure the dogs and had been responsible owners in the past. However, Judge Paul Geoghegan described the incident as a tragic oversight rather than a deliberate act of negligence. He expressed understanding for the mother’s grief, assuring her that nothing more could have been done to prevent the attack. Both Malkin and Kearney were ordered to pay an emotional harm payment of $1,500 each to the child’s family.
In addition to the financial penalty, the breeders were banned from breeding dogs. Kearney was also disqualified from owning any dogs in the future, a consequence she found deeply distressing. Despite the remorse expressed by the breeders, the victim’s mother believes the attack was preventable and that the dog had shown signs of aggression in the past.
This case highlights the importance of responsible dog ownership, particularly when dealing with animals known to have exhibited aggressive behavior. The council’s decision to disqualify Kearney from owning dogs and prevent Malkin from breeding them is seen as a necessary step in ensuring public safety.
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