A distraught woman is calling for the public’s help to bring a pair of mystery dog owners to justice, after their dogs attacked and killed her beloved pet.
Christine Holdin was walking her two small dogs, Oscar and Abby, at Thames’ Kuranui Bay on September 11 when she was rushed by at least three large dogs. Abby ran away, but Oscar, a shih tzu/bichon frise cross, was mauled by one of the dogs and died in his owner’s arms.
Christine and her husband Mo have since put out a call on social media, offering $1000 for information leading to the dogs and owners being found and brought to justice.
“The owners need to be penalised and put through the system,” Christine said.
“Their dogs, especially the ringleader, need to be euthanised, without a doubt.”
The attack took place at the north end of the Kuranui Bay, a popular off-leash walking spot, at around 5pm. Christine said she had noticed two women and their dogs as she arrived for her regular walk, and deliberately placed some distance between herself and them.
“Oscar was quite an anxious little dog. So I was always very careful with him where we went,” she said.
“We got along to near the end of the new plantings down there. And the big dogs at the south end of the park took one look at us and just bolted down the beach towards us. My two were behind me and I didn’t even have a chance to turn around and run or do anything.”
Christine suffered multiple bites and wounds as she tried to separate the dogs.
“I grabbed Oscar and ended up on the ground with him underneath me… And I was hitting the dog, the big dog on the nose with my retractable lead. And he let go probably four or five times, but he kept latching back on to Oscar again.”
She said the women showed no concern for her or Oscar.
“When the owners eventually got down to me, I could hear them yelling, ‘get the dog off, get the dog off’. And when I screamed out, he’s bitten me, I heard them say, ‘get him off because they’re going to put him down’,” Christine said.
“Eventually they did. And then they just screamed at me to get out of there, to go. I felt like they were yelling at me like it was my fault.”
Christine ended up at Thames Hospital for her wounds. More than a week later, she was still in pain.
“All the bites on my right hand are healing up really well, but I’ve got one on my left index finger that’s not so good,” Christine said.
“I have a feeling the nerve’s been damaged because it’s all tingly and I’ve got pins and needles at the top.”
Worse than the physical pain though, is the heartbreak. And Christine said she was now terrified to go out with Abby.
“I took Abby for a walk just around the top of Mount Sea Rd,” she said.
“When we were heading home, a big black, German shepherd… came out of a driveway out of nowhere and I just totally freaked out. Nothing bothers [Abby] at all, but when that dog did come up to us and got close to her, she started yelping, which freaked me out even more.”
Despite the presence of several witnesses at the beach, the attacking dogs and their owners have yet to be found. A statement from Thames Coromandel District Council said it was investigating the attack.
“We’ve spoken to the injured woman as part of our investigation, and we’re wishing her a speedy recovery. We’ve also been visiting properties in the area to speak to any witnesses. If you saw the attack or have any information, please give us a call on 07 868 0200,” the statement read.
“At Kuranui Bay, dogs can be off lead but under control except from 20 December to 31 January and all holiday weekends between 9am-6pm when they are prohibited from that area.”
Christine said she was grateful for the outpouring of support she had received since the attack.
“I do appreciate everything that everyone has said and all the comments. But just please be careful with your dog.”
She said the main attacker, a “huge” tan dog with a build similar to a bull mastiff, was intent on killing, and she had no doubts it would attack again.
“It was intentional. There was no provoking from my two – it just went straight for [them],” she said.
“I probably got bitten because I was trying to intervene, but he had absolutely intentions of killing Oscar, of getting him. The main dog… it was like inches away from my face.”
“If anyone does have even the smallest bit of info, please ring the council or private message me. The dogs and women need to be held accountable for their actions.”
