Disqualifications On Owning Dogs and Roosters Appealed

An Invercargill women who has received 71 complaints over nine years for her two menacing dogs, has appealed a notice of disqualification from owning dogs for five years.

Danuata Helena Boniface has objected to the Invercargill City Council disqualification under the Dog Control Act, and a hearing will be held tomorrow.

Argos and Zara are a German Shepherd and Rottweiler cross and the disqualification relates to the past three infringements in December 2022, along with January and May this year.

A report to the ICC hearing from the manager of environmental services Gillian Cavanagh, said both dogs were impounded as a result of the recent complaints from the public about them wandering.

Both dogs were classified as ‘menacing’ after a dog attack on another dog when the owner and son were out walking on November 26, 2020.

The report states that the appellant has had multiple opportunities from previous incidents to rectify the situation – including property inspections, verbal education, warnings and infringement notices.

The dogs have been impounded 12 times as a result of three dog attacks, 68 complaints of barking, 1 dangerous/menacing incident, and 23 miscellaneous.

Councillors involved in the hearing will also consider an appeal to remove a rooster from a Bowmont Street property, after its constant early morning noise.

The appellant Alisa Cole said, in the report to council, that she keeps a rooster to protect her chickens, after past attacks from neighbourhood cats.

Animal control staff visited the property in the early morning to do an assessment, and confirmed the noise was excessive.  They ordered the immediate removal of the rooster.