LAWRENCE SMITH/STUFF Mena Mottram says her dog Sasha is not dangerous, despite numerous complaints about her dog from her community.

Residents on a quiet Auckland street say a dog is terrorising their neighbourhood, leaving some neighbours too scared to go outside.

Auckland Council has been called more than a dozen times about the two-year-old labrador roaming the streets, residents say.

Resident Emma McEwan said the dog was aggressive towards pedestrians, chased joggers and passing cars, and cornered people in their driveways.

The dog continued to roam free, despite its owner being fined more than $1000 by the council.

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"Auckland Council and Animal Control are limited as to what they can do," McEwan said.

"I am not scared of dogs so for me it's not terrifying, but I understand that when a dog is jumping, barking or is growling, it is terrifying for a lot of people."

McEwan said parents were afraid to let their children outside because of the dog.

"They've got small children and they want to keep them safe."

A resident, who Stuff agreed not to name, said neighbours had complained to council more than a dozen times in the past five months.



She said she wanted to know what it would take to get a muzzle order for a dog known to be dangerous in a community.

"Council seems to have little power or will to control roaming dogs, until they actually bite someone."

Some older residents were too scared to go into their garden, she said.

But the dog's owner Mena Mottram said her pet, Sasha, was harmless.

"My dog is not dangerous," she said.

"I can see where they are coming from. Sasha's got a mouth on her but I still wouldn't have her if I knew she was going to harm somebody."

Mottram said she had been fined more than $1000 by Animal Management.

However, she said there had been no discussion of taking her dog away, having it muzzled or having her put down.

"I have three kids in this house, my baby's been around her since she was born – Sasha's been good.

"I wouldn't have this dog if I knew it would harm my child or anyone else's child because, from a mother's point of view, my baby's safety is paramount."

The dog usually escaped when the back sliding door was open, but was usually on her leash while out walking, she said.

SUPPLIED Residents say young families and elderly residents are too scared to go on the street due to the dog. A resident recently captured this image of Sasha roaming free.

Mottram said the dog barked at people, but had toned down since being desexed.

Auckland Council refused to comment on the number of fines the dog owner had received or any other details relating to complaints.

Animal management manager Sarah Anderson said a dog owner could only be disqualified from ownership after a successful prosecution, or after three or more offences in a 24-month period.

Until then, council could only seize and impound a dog if it was involved in an incident or act of aggression, she said.

A dog could be classified as menacing if dog was found to be a threat to a person or animal, she said.

"Once classified, the dog must be desexed, micro-chipped and muzzled when in public."

ROAMING DOGS

Dogs must be on-leash at all times in public places with unrestricted access.

Council may impound a dog which is roaming free, barking, fouling, aggressive, menacing or dangerous.

MENACING DOGS

Dogs classified to be menacing or known to be menacing should be muzzled in public.

A dog can be menacing due to its breed (such as the American pit bull terrier) or for its behaviour.

This can happen when a dog has been proven to be a risk to the public or other animals.

DANGEROUS DOGS

A dangerous dog has posed a threat to the safety of a person or animal.

It can also be classified as dangerous if the owner has been convicted of an offence due to the dog rushing at a person, animal or vehicle.

Dangerous dogs must be kept in a fully-fenced area and muzzled in public.