The owner of the two dogs that fatally attacked 11 sheep on a rural Pyes Pa farm is facing two charges under the Dog Control Act.

The man is charged with two counts of ‘dog attacks stock' under section 57 (2) of the act after his two border-collie cross dogs escaped from their compound and attacked the sheep on a neighbouring property last Monday.

The dogs killed six sheep and badly injured another five – which were later euthanised.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council animal services team leader Andrew Hope two charges have been laid following a council investigation.

'We have informed them [the sheep owners] that the decision has been made that we will be proceeding with charges,” says Andrew.

'Charges were laid because of the serious nature of the attack and loss of stock.”

It is estimated the cost of the 11 sheep is around $5000.

Andrew says the two registered and micro-chipped dogs are not aggressive to humans but are to sheep. They have since been impounded and will remain there until the case is concluded.

The potential penalties for a dog attacking stock or poultry under the Dog Control Act 1996 are a $3000 fine for the owners and payment to the stock owner for damages and loss. A court can also order the dog to be euthanised.

This is the second serious dog attack in the Bay of Plenty area in the last month after a dog attacked a four-year-old boy in Merivale.

The pre-schooler was visiting the dog owners' Merivale home around midday on Friday, July 12 when the bull-mastiff dog allegedly attacked the child as he went to pat it.

The child was rushed to Tauranga Hospital with facial injuries and later flown to Waikato Hospital by the TrustPower TECT rescue helicopter for special care.

The owner of the dog is also heading to court on one charge of being the ‘owner of a dog which attacked a person causing serious injury'.

The maximum penalty is a fine of up to $20,000 and up to three years in prison. If convicted the dog can also be euthanised.

Dates for both cases are yet to be announced.