A Queenstown Lakes District Council dog control committee panel has decided a pet labradoodle, Alfie, and a German pointer-lagotto, Otto, respectively, are not "dangerous", following a hearing last month.
AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand co-founder and managing director Henry van Asch and his wife, Caroline Hutchison, and fellow Queenstown resident Timothy Hardley own the dogs.
Mr van Asch, who owns Alfie, told the Otago Daily Times he was pleased "common sense has prevailed".
"He [Alfie] is a lovely dog and he’s well-valued by many people in the community, and he’s been a pleasure to have as a pet for his entire life."
The classifications were imposed on Alfie and Otto following an alleged attack on sheep at Dalefield last October.
Had they been upheld, the dogs would have had to be kept within a securely fenced portion of the property, in an area where a visitor to their homes would be able to avoid contact with them, would not have been allowed at large, muzzled, controlled on a leash and neutered.
According to the decision as it relates to Alfie, issued by Crs Lyal Cocks (chairman), Melissa White and Cody Tucker, the council’s animal control staff were called by the owner of the sheep, who advised there had been an attack involving two dogs.
At the site, staff found several dead and injured sheep and lambs.
The decision said Otto ran away and then Alfie sat when commanded for about 10 minutes before also decamping.
Council staff classified them as dangerous.
The owners were notified in February and lodged objections.
During last month’s hearing, Mr van Asch and Ms Hutchison’s lawyer, Graeme Todd, submitted the identification of the dog or dogs responsible for the attack could not be established beyond reasonable doubt.
The degree of aggression and manner in which the dogs behaved was also questioned.
During the hearing, Mr Todd also noted there was no evidence of any blood on Alfie, despite extensive bleeding to the stock.
Alfie had subsequently been fitted with an electric collar, restricting him from going within metres of the boundary to ensure he would not roam again.
Long runs on wires had also been installed and they had provided a fenced area for him.
Mr Hardley had also installed electric fencing and Otto wore an electric collar, with a GPS tracker.
Neither dog had left their homes unless by car since the incident and Mr Hardley — who was overseas on the day of the alleged attack — advised when he was away from home in future, Otto would stay in Cromwell with dog behaviouralist Gary Wulf.
Mr Wulf had trained Otto from a young age and said the dog had never shown any aggression.
Five character references for "Alfie van Asch" were presented to the panel.
"Much emphasis was placed on Alfie’s visits to the Tom Pryde Centre and the positive impact he has on individuals with disabilities", the decision said.
The panel’s decision regarding both dogs said while they accepted the sworn statement provided "reasonable grounds" for the classification, there was no witness to an actual attack on the animals by the dogs.
It was obvious the owners had received a "harsh reminder" about the need to ensure domestic dogs did not roam, and had taken steps to prevent that.
In rescinding the classifications, the panel considered it "extremely unlikely" Alfie and Otto were a threat to the safety of any person.
Their owners had demonstrated reasonable judgement to manage the risk to livestock in months following the alleged attack.
In Alfie’s case, it meant he was free to resume visits with his friends at Living Options, and to the bungy centre.
"His extensive fan club will be happy to see him again", Mr van Asch said, noting while Alfie did not yet have his own Instagram page, "maybe he’ll get one after this".
