Matapihi attack dog to be put down

A dog that bit a three-year-old boy on the face at a Matapihi property earlier this year is to be put down.

Judge Tony Couch made the order for destruction of the pitbull cross dog when its owner Aaron Kohu, 27, pleaded guilty in Tauranga District Court this afternoon to one count of owning a dog which causes injury or death.


A second dog was seen at the Matapihi property where a toddler was bitten. The dog responsible has been in the pound since the attack on March 27 and will be put down.

Earlier in the day, Kohu was sentenced to three years and one month jail for assaulting a police officer and drug related charges.

In court this afternoon, Kohu admitted to owning the male pitbull-cross that bit the toddler as he played in the yard where the dog was chained up.

The Hastings boy and his parents were visiting family at the property when the incident happened on March 23 this year.

The toddler was taken to Tauranga Hospital with a six centimetre long gash under his right eye.

At the time of the incident, police said the pitbull cross dog was on a three metre long chain.

Animal control officers seized the dog and sought an order for its destruction.

Judge Couch told Kohu understands it will be sad to see the dog destroyed.

'I know it will be sad for you to see the dog destroyed and it's sad for me to make the order for destruction, but that's what legislation requires me to do.” Kohu was sentenced to three months jail, to be served concurrently on his existing prison sentence.

Judge Couch also remitted his outstanding fines and sentenced Kohu to an extra month in prison, to be served on top of his three years and one month sentence.

You may also like....

1 comment

yeah but!

Posted on 24-06-2014 17:53 | By grasser

The family of the kid bitten must have known what sort of property they were visiting. What about protective care?


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.