The Nelson City Council brought a prosecution against the owner of Siberian husky ZiaZia after it bit a woman's hands and wrists in October last year.

A woman is taking the fight for her dog's life to the Court of Appeal, after two judges ruled the animal is "too great a risk" to the public and must be destroyed.

Jenny Lyn Walker, of Nelson, says a "grave injustice" has been done in ordering her Siberian husky, ZiaZia, to be put down and she was seeking to have the decision overturned in the Court of Appeal.

"She does not deserve to lose her life over this, she is intelligent and proven to be capable of change. Rehabilitation options haven't been allowed thus far," Walker said.

"So we are going to the Court of Appeal to keep fighting this because there has been error of judgement, fact and law and new evidence is also being investigated."

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The Nelson City Council brought a prosecution against Walker after ZiaZia bit a woman's hands and wrists in October last year.

The woman, who was caring for ZiaZia while Walker was away in Japan, had to be taken to hospital where some of her wounds were stitched. She was unable to drive for a week.

Judge Bruce Davidson convicted Walker on a charge of owning a dog that has attacked a person at a hearing in March.

He ordered her to pay a $550 fine and $500 emotional harm reparation to the victim, her flatmate.

Walker appealed that decision on the grounds of "total absence of fault".

The appeal was heard by Justice Joe Williams in the High Court at Nelson last month.

The court heard that ZiaZia was three and had a history of biting.

Before leaving for Japan, Walker left her flatmate with detailed instructions as to ZiaZia's feeding protocol.

However, on a day when this protocol wasn't followed, ZiaZia bit the woman.

The court heard that Walker's flatmate knew to be cautious around ZiaZia as she had been bitten before and "reluctantly" agreed to care for her.

ZiaZia was known to have bitten people on at least nine previous occasions, including some that were "relatively serious".

She once bit a dog trainer who had been brought in to try and manage ZiaZia's aggression. The trainer recommended either intensive behaviour work or euthanasia.

The court heard that Walker rationalised prior biting incidents "blaming herself and others, for disturbing, annoying or antagonising ZiaZia in some way".

ZiaZia had been making positive progress during the six months prior to the attack on her carer.

However, Justice Williams ruled that Walker did not meet the threshold for "total absence of fault", finding that she knew of ZiaZia's biting history and had little appreciation of the danger she posed.

He said ZiaZia was "deeply loved yet with complex and severe behavioural difficulties".

He acknowledged that Walker wanted ZiaZia to be properly socialised.

"There is a great deal of aspiration in that regard, overwhelming hope for redemption, but no real road map."

Justice Williams said that ZiaZia's aggression was entrenched behaviour and she was likely to attack again.

"She is simply too great a risk."

In a decision this week, he found that Judge Davidson had been correct in his earlier judgement and dismissed the appeal.

Justice Williams said that ZiaZia "must be destroyed".

Walker said she loved ZiaZia.

"She is an awesome dog. Very attentive, knows lots of instructions, plays well with other dogs and people including children.

"I am a responsible owner and have always taken steps to ensure safety of others. I have been without ZiaZia for six months now and I want her to come home."