An Auckland woman has been sentenced to community work after her two American bulldogs severely injured a toddler in an attack that occurred in the child’s own front yard.
The Attack and Injuries
The incident took place in March last year, when the two-year-old child was attacked by two roaming American bulldogs that entered the property in South Auckland. The boy suffered a fractured shoulder blade and multiple serious wounds to his head and neck in the “unprovoked and sustained” attack, as stated by Auckland Council.
Despite the boy’s mother attempting to lift him to safety and others trying to intervene, the dogs continued their attack until the owners’ relatives arrived and removed them from the property. CCTV footage of the attack revealed that it stopped only when the dogs were driven away.
The toddler was rushed to the hospital, requiring several surgeries and a prolonged stay for recovery.
Legal Proceedings and Sentence
Janna Faumui, the dogs’ owner, pleaded guilty to charges of owning dogs that caused serious injury. During the trial, the judge considered a possible jail term for Faumui, but ultimately decided against it. Faumui, who had no prior criminal history, was deemed not to pose a threat to the community and had shown remorse for the incident.
She was sentenced to 150 hours of community work and ordered to pay $2,000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim’s family.
Dog Euthanasia and Council’s Response
Following the attack, both dogs were voluntarily handed over to the Auckland Council and euthanized.
Auckland Council officials emphasized the importance of responsible dog ownership, warning that dog owners must ensure their animals are properly trained and never allowed to roam freely. Councillor Josephine Bartlett stressed that dog owners who fail to control their animals would face prosecution, noting that the attack was entirely preventable.
“It is not okay for dogs to be roaming or uncontrolled. The trauma and injuries inflicted on this child were horrific and entirely preventable,” said Bartlett.
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