Latest news with #JannaFaumui
1News
14-05-2025
- 1News
Owner of dogs that mauled two-year-old boy sentenced
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.
RNZ News
14-05-2025
- RNZ News
Dog owner prosecuted after toddler viciously attacked in own front yard
The child was attacked by two American bulldogs. File photo. Photo: 123RF An Auckland woman has been sentenced to community work after her two dogs seriously injured a toddler in an attack in his own front yard. The two-year-old was mauled by two roaming American bulldogs that came onto his South Auckland property in March last year. His shoulder blade was fractured, and he had several serious wounds to his head and neck from the "unprovoked and sustained" attack, the council said. The dogs continued to attack as the boy's mother lifted him to safety and other people tried to help. CCTV footage showed the attack only stopped when the dogs were removed by the owners' relatives and driven away, the council said. The toddler had to have multiple operations and a long stay in hospital. The dogs' owner Janna Faumui pleaded guilty to charges of owning dogs that attacked a person causing serious injury, the council said. The judge said he was considering a jail term, but Faumi did not have a previous criminal history, did not appear to be a threat to the community and had shown remorse. She was sentenced to 150 hours community work and told to pay $2000 in emotional harm reparation to the boy's family. Both the dogs were voluntarily handed over to the council and euthanised after the attack. Auckland Council said the case was a wake-up call and all dog owners should make sure they were well trained animals and never allowed to roam. Councillor Josephine Bartlett said dog owners had to understand those duties and would be prosecuted if they failed. "It is not okay for dogs to be roaming or uncontrolled. The trauma and injuries inflicted on this child were horrific and entirely preventable," she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Scoop
Toddler Mauled By Roaming Dogs In Front Yard – Council Calls It A Wake-up Call
Press Release – Auckland Council The young boy was mauled by two dogs while playing in the front yard of his south Auckland home. The unprovoked and sustained attack left him with several serious wounds to his neck and head, and a fractured shoulder blade, requiring multiple surgeries … A two-year-old child sustained life-threatening injuries in a horrific dog attack in March 2024. The young boy was mauled by two dogs while playing in the front yard of his south Auckland home. The unprovoked and sustained attack left him with several serious wounds to his neck and head, and a fractured shoulder blade, requiring multiple surgeries and a prolonged hospital stay. The dogs, two American Bulldogs roamed freely into the child's yard and attacked him without warning. Despite heroic efforts by bystanders and the victim's mother, who physically lifted her child to safety, the dogs continued to attack. CCTV footage confirmed the brutality of the attack, which ended only when the dogs were forcibly removed and driven away by the owners' relatives. On 30 July 2024, the Auckland Council commenced a criminal prosecution against the owner, laying two charges for owning dogs that attacked a person causing serious injury. Last week in the Manukau District Court, Judge Moala sentenced the owner, Ms Janna Faumui who had pleaded guilty to the charges, to 150 hours of community work and ordered her to pay $2,000 in emotional harm reparation to the victim's family. Judge Moala considered that where the victim of a dog attack has suffered near-fatal injuries, the starting point for sentence is likely to be one of imprisonment. However, the Judge did not consider imprisonment was appropriate in this case given the defendant's lack of criminal history and there being no indication she was a danger to the community. The defendant was given credit for her early guilty pleas, her lack of conviction history and the remorse she had shown for the offending. Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley expressed heartfelt concern for the toddler. 'It is not okay for dogs to be roaming or uncontrolled. The trauma and injuries inflicted on this child were horrific and entirely preventable,' she said. 'Dog owners must understand their responsibilities. This is not optional. If they fail in those duties, we will not hesitate to prosecute.' Auckland Council's General Manager of Licensing and Compliance, Robert Irvine, says this is another devastating example of the serious consequences of roaming dogs in our city. 'We commend the bravery of the bystanders who tried to intervene in the attack,' said Mr Irvine. 'No one should ever have to witness such violence, especially a parent.' 'We have increased the number of Animal Management Officers and their proactive patrolling in high-risk areas, and we are doing all we can to prevent incidences like this from happening, but we can't be everywhere all the time. We need dog owners to take responsibility for their dogs, keep them contained and not allow them to roam,' adds Irvine. The council has confirmed both dogs were voluntarily surrendered and euthanised following the attack. Auckland Council urges all dog owners to ensure their pets are secure, well-trained, and never allowed to roam. 'One moment of negligence can result in a lifetime of pain,' says Mr Irvine. Further case highlights dangers of careless dog ownership In a separate case in the Manukau District Court, Maxine Hona was sentenced to 100 hours of community work and ordered to pay $200 in emotional harm reparation after her dog, Otis, seriously attacked a visitor in her home in March 2024. Despite Ms Hona's attempt to contain her dog before allowing the victim inside, it escaped and launched a persistent attack, injuring both the visitor and Ms Hona herself. The court rejected arguments that this was an exceptional incident and made an order for the dog's destruction. Judge Patel stressed that even one-off failures to control dogs can have devastating consequences. This case reinforces Auckland Council's message: pet ownership comes with absolute responsibility. There is no margin for error when it comes to public safety.
