Dusty the Border Collie won a stay of execution yesterday when the Central Otago District Council backed down from classifying it as a dangerous dog.
Owner Jade Walker, of Ranfurly, had objected to the classification and appeared before the council to plead her case, saying she could not afford to meet her obligations if the dog was declared dangerous.
The dog would then have to be kept in a securely fenced property, be muzzled and on a leash when it was in any public place, would be charged a higher registration fee and would need to be microchipped.
Ms Walker said she and her partner could not afford that and would have no alternative but to put the dog down.
The council's planning manager, Louise van der Voort, said a Ranfurly woman had been walking her dog when four dogs ran out of Ms Walker's property.
One bit the woman on the hand and one bit her dog. It was felt the two aggressive dogs posed a threat to people and other dogs.
One belonged to Ms Walker.
Council dog control officer Patricia Hilton said the dog was often left to roam.
"Our concern is that there could be future incidents and possibly something more serious," Ms van der Voort said.
Lawyer Tim Cadogan, appearing for Ms Walker, said although it was a distressing event for the woman who made the complaint, there was no independent evidence about the injury to the dog.
The border collie was not dangerous and its owner had now purchased a kennel and run to keep the animal secure.
Central Otago Mayor Malcolm Macpherson said although the dog was insufficiently supervised, it would be unjust to label it as dangerous.
Mr Cadogan said the dog's behaviour, if it "rushed" at people, could be defined as aggressive, but the council needed to have reasonable grounds to consider the dog a threat.
"They know their dog's life is hanging in your hands today," he said.
Dr Macpherson said the decision, which went against Ms van der Voort's recommendation, was not taken lightly.
Ms Walker said after the meeting she was "so happy" with the outcome.
