Bus stop dog attack: owner pleads guilty

The owner of a dog that attacked and bit a man at a bus stop appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.

Damien Olliver, owner of the American pit bull terrier-cross that harassed school children at a bus stop and bit a Bayline Coaches staff member, pleaded guilty to the charge laid against him.

The charge was for being the owner of dog which attacked a person causing serious injury.

He was fined $500, ordered to pay court costs and $1500 in reparation.

Tauranga City Council's Mr Lincoln said the dog had already been put down.

He said the dog had been put down because Mr Olliver did not pay the pound fees.

The American pitbull terrier-cross named Haze attacked and bit a 61-year-old Bayline Coaches supervisor at the bus stop near the intersection of Windermere Drive and Poike Rd on August 20.

The supervisor was called to the scene by a bus driver over concerns that the dog was acting aggressively and harassing the schoolchildren at the bus stop.

The supervisor was taken to Tauranga Hospital to have surgery after suffering a bite wound to his lower leg.