Dog attack victim wants owner fined, not jailed

A woman badly mauled by eight pig dogs six weeks ago wants to see the owner fined, not jailed.

Margit Christensen, 36, suffered extensive injuries to her head, body and limbs on August 3 when she was attacked for about 15 minutes by the bull terrier-cross dogs while running near her Arapuni farmhouse.

Mrs Christensen was discharged from Waikato Hospital three weeks after the attack.

She said wounds to her scalp, legs and arms were healing fast.

The dog's owner, Tara Tuhakaraina, 29, has entered no plea on eight counts of owning a dog causing injury. Tuhakaraina has been remanded on bail since her arrest and is due to appear in the Tokoroa District Court in two weeks.

Mrs Christensen said yesterday she did not want Tuhakaraina to be given a jail sentence. "I don't bear any grudges towards Tara. She has made a mistake and the best outcome would be a monetary fine, and not to be put in prison."

Tuhakaraina should not be able to own a dog for five years, she said.

Mrs Christensen is being cared for at home by her sister, Elisabeth, a nurse, who had flown from Germany.

"The injuries are healing well although I still have some problems with my left leg where there are exposed tendons.

"I haven't been put off dogs, I'll just be more careful in the future ... I would like to run again but I will take someone with me next time."

- © Fairfax NZ News