Police shoot and miss 'mad' dog 12 times

Police fired several shots at a dog set on them by a man throwing bottles and a tomahawk, at a domestic incident in Porirua last night.
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The man also threw lumps of wood at police and hit one officer who was uninjured.

Kapiti Mana Area Commander Inspector John Spence said police fired up to a dozen shots at a large "hyped up" rottweiler.

None of the shots hit the dog.

"It was a small, black, fast-moving target."

The 19 year-old man had been taunting police and "hyping up" the dog, and police tried to pepperspray the animal before resorting to shooting.

Inspector Spence said he was satisfied no member of the public, including the man involved, was in danger.

"The use of firearms by police in an effort to stop the dog was in this situation quite justified."

The "very agitated and threatening" man had also damaged a neighbour's car in the incident, and at one stage re-armed himself with a larger axe and a softball bat.

He was subdued by police dogs, and is now at Wellington Hospital undergoing surgery for dog-bites to his legs.

Inspector Spence said a woman and young child had escaped from the property before they arrived, neither were hurt.

The dog was also unhurt and was back with its owner, who was the man's partner and the woman involved in the domestic incident.

The man will face a range of charges relating to the use of weapons, including the dog, and for the damage to the neighbour's car.

The incident began at about 10.40pm last night and lasted for about two hours, Inspector Spence said.

"It was certainly pretty tense...this was a volatile and nasty situation where the offender threatened his partner and he continued to threaten and challenge police when officers arrived at the scene."

A scene examination was underway at the house today and police were talking to witnesses.