An Auckland dog owner has been sentenced after a two-year-old was mauled and left with life-threatening injuries.
The attack occurred when the child was playing in his front yard and two American Bulldogs roamed onto the child’s Auckland property in March 2024.
Unprovoked, they attacked him, leaving him with several serious injuries to his neck and head along with a fractured shoulder blade. He required multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay, Auckland Council said.
“Despite heroic efforts by bystanders and the victim’s mother, who physically lifted her child to safety, the dogs continued to attack.”
Auckland Council said CCTV footage captured the brutal maulings, which only ended when relatives of the owners forcibly removed the dogs.
The council commenced a criminal prosecution against the owner on July 30, 2024, laying two charges for owning dogs that had attacked a person.
Last week, the dog’s owner, Janna Faumui, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 150 hours of community work and a $2000 fine in emotional reparation to the victim’s family.
Judge Moala decided imprisonment was inappropriate for this case, given Faumui’s lack of criminal history.
Chair of Auckland Council’s regulatory and safety committee Josephine Bartley said dog owners must understand their responsibilities.
“It is not OK for dogs to be roaming or uncontrolled. The trauma and injuries inflicted on this child were horrific and entirely preventable,” Bartley said.
Auckland Council’s general manager of licensing and compliance, Robert Irvine, commended the bravery of the bystanders during the attack but said no one should have to witness such violence, “especially a parent”.
Irvine said the council has increased the number of Animal Management Officers in high-risk areas but warned “dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs”.
Both of the dogs that attacked the boy were voluntarily surrendered and were euthanised.
“One moment of negligence can result in a lifetime of pain,” Irvine added.
