A serious attack on an elderly woman by a menacing dog highlights the consequences of irresponsible ownership, as Auckland Council reports its first decline in dog attacks in years.
A 74-year-old woman suffered a devastating calf injury when a menacing dog rushed through an open front gate and attacked her as she walked home with her grandson in New Windsor.
The attack happened around midday on 21 June 2025, as the pair walked past a property in Dicky Street. The dog, Nala, a gold and brown female American pit-bull terrier, bit the woman’s right calf, tearing away a section of tissue. The wound required surgery for a skin graft and the woman spent several days in hospital.
Nala had been classified as a menacing dog since 13 March 2024.
Auckland Council records show her owner, Marieta Toalepai, had received infringement notices previously for failing to keep the dog under control.
Toalepai was not home at the time the attack occurred but arrived shortly afterwards and assisted the victim. She later voluntarily relinquished ownership of the dog to Auckland Council.
In sentencing Ms Toalepai to four months’ community detention in the Auckland District Court yesterday, Judge Lance stated the background of infringement notices which had been issued for Nala being found roaming, should have made it obvious that a higher standard of control needed to be exercised, and that because of that background, it wasn’t enough to say, “I wasn’t there when it happened.”
The Judge considered the offending relatively serious and pointed out the serious consequences it had for the victim and her family.
The prosecution is an example of Auckland Council’s successful efforts to reduce dog-related harm, with new figures showing falls in dog attacks and roaming complaints for the first time in years.
The Animal Management Annual Report 2025/2026, released last week, records a five per cent decrease in total dog attacks, from 2,864 to 2,722. Attacks on people fell by 8.9 per cent, while roaming dog complaints dropped almost 25 per cent, from 16,739 to 12,592.
The improvements coincide with a significant increase in proactive prevention and enforcement. Council officers carried out 13,672 patrols, inspections and compliance activities during the year, two-thirds more than in the previous year. Requests for Animal Management services fell by 18 per cent.
Auckland Council’s General Manager Licensing and Compliance Robert Irvine says the results reflect increased efforts to prevent incidents, but owners must take responsibility for their dogs.
“This incident that led to a successful prosecution was a serious and entirely avoidable attack that left an elderly woman with devastating injuries. Every dog owner has a responsibility to ensure their animal is safely contained and under control, and that responsibility is even greater when a dog has been classified as menacing.
“Dogs are wonderful companions, but owning one comes with real obligations. That means having secure gates and fencing, complying with restrictions, and never ignoring warnings or signs that a dog may pose a risk.
“Our officers are working harder than ever to prevent dog attacks through proactive patrols, education and enforcement. But when owners repeatedly fail to meet their obligations and people are seriously injured, we will not hesitate to prosecute and remove the dog where the evidence supports criminal charges. We owe it to victims and our communities to take these cases seriously.”
Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley, says the falling figures are encouraging, but the scale of the problem remains significant.
“It’s encouraging to see dog attacks and roaming complaints finally heading in the right direction, and that reflects the enormous effort our Animal Management teams are putting into keeping Aucklanders safe. But behind every attack is a real person, a family and often a long and painful recovery.
“This case is a sobering reminder that the consequences of irresponsible dog ownership can be life changing. No one should have to fear being attacked while simply walking along their street.
“Council is investing in prevention, getting out into communities and holding irresponsible owners to account. But we cannot do this alone. Dog owners must step up, secure their properties, keep their dogs under control and take their obligations seriously. The progress we’re seeing will only continue if the public plays its part.”
Council’s prevention work also includes initiatives to reduce unwanted litters. More than 1,700 dogs were desexed through its free desexing clinic, with a further 300-plus desexed through a voucher partnership with the SPCA.
But enforcement alone cannot keep every neighbourhood safe. Every dog owner must do their part by securely containing their animals, preventing them from roaming and complying with control requirements, particularly when a dog has been classified as menacing.