Warning: Distressing images and content
A Mount Maunganui man’s “world has been shattered” after three dogs attacked his two elderly fox terriers, killing one and wounding and traumatising the other.
Murray Kenny said he and his dogs Bella, 17, and Ruby, 18, were at Opūrū Rotary Park in Maungatapu about 8am on March 1. He went into the water, accompanied by Bella, for his daily cold swim.
Kenny said he was parked near the recycling bins and barbecue area of the park, and two freedom campers in a ute nearby appeared to be asleep.
Before getting into the water, he checked the area carefully for other dogs and people.
“There was no one else in that part of the park, and it was unusually quiet for that time of day.”
Ruby (left) and Bella, owned by Murray Kenny, were attacked by dogs in the Opuru Rotary Park on March 1, 2026. Photo / Supplied
He began swimming with Bella and Ruby watched them from the shore.
“Bella was happy as. She loved the water and enjoyed swimming all the time,” he said, tearfully.
About five minutes later, Kenny said he saw three large “vicious-looking” dogs racing across the park.
“They were running straight towards us. I could sense an attack was imminent, and started screaming for the owners to come and get their dogs.”
Ruby crouched down and started to run back to his van, but in a “split second”, the dogs attacked her.
“She screamed in pain. Bella sprinted as fast as she could to try and save her sister, but the dogs, three times her size, then turned on Bella.”
Murray Kenny believes dogs he says attacked his pets also tried to get to his throat.
Kenny said he ran to his dogs and tried to pick them up, but as he bent down, he was bitten on the chin by one of the dogs as Bella and Ruby tried to “fight for their lives”.
“I also got lacerations on my fingers and elbow. I have no doubt the dog was trying to get my throat.”
He said the man from the ute arrived to grab his dogs. He managed to lift Bella and Ruby into his arms and carried them back to his van.
“The other man didn’t say anything, but he was respectful, and appeared remorseful and used his shirt to wipe some of my blood off my phone and glasses before handing them back to me.”
Kenny said the woman with the man was “yelling abuse”, saying she had filmed the attack, and it was his fault because Ruby and Bella were off-lead.
He said he managed to photograph the pair and the three dogs before they left the park.
Bella, a 17-year-old fox terrier, suffered fatal injuries during a dog attack.
Kenny said he didn’t initially realise how badly hurt Bella was, and attended to Ruby first as she had multiple bite wounds to her stomach. The vet told him she was lucky to be alive.
But Bella’s injuries were fatal.
“She had severe bite wounds to her hindquarters, and arteries were severed. I thought the vet could stitch her up and she’d be fine. But they couldn’t stop the bleeding, and she bled out.”
Kenny drove to Hamilton to bury Bella and was treated at Waikato Hospital for his own wounds. He contacted the police the next day. Tauranga City Council was also notified.
Murray Kenny has had his beloved dogs Ruby (left) and Bella all their lives.
Kenny wept as he described Bella’s death and the change he had seen in Ruby since the attack.
“Ruby is not the same dog. She doesn’t trust me anymore. Every noise, she freaks out.
“She doesn’t feel safe. She’s traumatised losing Bella — as I am. I’ve been to Victim Support, I can’t sleep, and I haven’t been eating.”
Mount Maunganui man Murray Kenny's dog Bella, 17, was killed in a dog attack in Maungatapu on March 1. Photo / Supplied
He said the two fox terriers had been with him their whole lives and “they meant the world to me”.
”This has been a very painful experience. I’m speaking out because I don’t want anyone else to have to suffer the same shattering experience.
“My world has been shattered.”
Tauranga police area response manager Sergeant Oli Owen said the council’s animal control was in charge of the investigation.
Tauranga City Council animal services team leader Oscar Glossop said said the three dogs believed to be involved in the attack had been seized, and the council’s investigation was ongoing.
Glossop said he was unable to reveal the breeds of the dogs or other information that could identify “individuals, their dogs or their personal circumstances”, in line with the council’s privacy obligations.
Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.
9 comments
I grew up with dogs,
Posted on 18-03-2026 10:25 | By nerak
had 3 of my own, am a dog lover. BUT, I cannot condone these ongoing disastrous, wonton, vicious attacks by uncontrolled dogs. I've already said, there will be another human killed, it's only a matter of time. The gentleman in the article is lucky he is alive. I see only one result from this attack, sadly, and that is the dogs be destroyed, before they get another chance to kill, dog or human. TCC needs to do the only right thing. Murray, I am so sorry for your loss and your ongoing trauma. Keep your wonderful memories of Bella close, no one can take those from you.
Murray Kenny
Posted on 18-03-2026 11:12 | By Yadick
Sorry you had to become one of the many victims of these ongoing and increasing attacks. My heart definitely goes out to you.
Unfortunately don't expect much from Animal Services.
RiP Bella, Big healing process for you and Ruby.
Posted on 18-03-2026 12:41 | By Hoarder
What a horrific story, some of us that have pets know them as part of our family, as with Bella n Ruby.
Poor you and Ruby for your injuries . What a huge hole in your family now Bella has passed. My deepest sympathy for you and Ruby. Yes, your lives must be shattered.
DOG ATTACK
Posted on 18-03-2026 12:53 | By peter pan
What else can you expect ,till these types of dog are banned it will continue and as been said someone will be killed .
@nerak
Posted on 18-03-2026 15:21 | By morepork
I agree these dogs need to be put down.
But I say it very reluctantly; I don't believe the dogs were at fault. SOMEBODY trained these dogs to be attack dogs.
We have seen how notorious breeds like pit bulls, staffies, rotweilers, and so on, CAN be the most loyal and amazing pets when they are given the right training and ownership. It's not the breeds, it's the owners.
Some Human Beings, who are inadequate and insecure, feel better if they have killer dogs protecting them. The fact that these dogs cannot fit into a normal community (of people and dogs) is not something they think or care about.
We really need to start holding dog owners responsible for the action of their dogs. Some serious fines and the loss of their dogs might make some people think again about attack training.
More in separate post.
Mongrels
Posted on 18-03-2026 15:32 | By Cap'n Cray
In other jurisdictions the attackers would be put down without delay or debate.
Why not here?
Don't say it is instinctive.....
Posted on 18-03-2026 15:38 | By morepork
...It is your responsibility as owner of your dog to train out negative "instinctive" behaviours. You don't want your dog jumping all over visitors, so you train it not to. By the same token, you can teach your dog to control natural aggression it may have. You do it by repetitive positive reinforcement and if you can't do it, get a trained dog trainer to do it.
The fundamental command that all dogs must learn to obey is: COME! (or STOP! )
Your dog loves you and wants your approval. Show it you approve when simple, clear, commands are obeyed.
ANYONE who takes a dog off-leash to a public place, or trains a dog to attack, BEFORE making the COME command unconditional, is abnegating their responsibility to the community AND to their dog.
We need to seriously penalize (even imprison...) owners who cannot control their dogs.
@ morepork
Posted on 18-03-2026 18:48 | By nerak
I agree with most of what you say. My butcher many years ago had a rottie, a huge big goofball. In play or otherwise the dog bit a toddler on the cheek very close to the eye. I saw the heartbreak in the owner after he put his beloved pet down. And this dog had the very, very best training. Always, there would have been the niggle, will it happen again.
Unfortunately, once a dog has a taste of blood, they will want for more. Look at the roaming packs in rural areas, and the devastation they have caused. The sites of the destruction, in a flock of sheep, was not about eating, it was about killing for 'pleasure'.
And I do agree with: 'We need to seriously penalize (even imprison...) owners who cannot control their dogs.' Make it happen TCC
C'mon!!!
Posted on 19-03-2026 05:27 | By Thats Nice
This is totally out of control. When will dog owners get the message and contain your pets. Put them down and hand out a massive fine then hopefully these incompetent people will get the message. It's getting to be a daily occurrence and dishing some stiff penalties is long overdue.
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