A dog that attacked another dog will not be put down after a legal decision. This happened because of a loophole in the law. Suki, a 12-year-old American Staffordshire terrier, escaped from Robert Telford’s home in April 2021. Suki ran into Waterview Reserve, where a woman and her dog, Charlie, were sitting.
Suki attacked Charlie, biting his throat and then his legs. After a struggle, the woman and a helper managed to separate the dogs. Charlie had serious injuries and needed veterinary treatment.
Telford was charged for owning a dog that attacked another animal under the Dog Control Act. He admitted guilt but asked to avoid a conviction due to his situation. A judge allowed this but ordered Suki to be put down. Telford appealed, and in 2022, a High Court judge agreed that the lower court did not have the authority to order the dog’s death since Telford had not been convicted.
While the district court could order Suki’s destruction under a different law, the judge decided it wasn’t necessary for public safety. In April 2024, Auckland Council challenged this decision, but on Thursday, Solicitor-General Una Jagose ruled that the High Court was right and Suki would live. Jagose acknowledged that this decision might upset regulators and suggested the laws may need more clarity.
