ALSATIAN DOGS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 212, 20 June 1933, Page 2

ALSATIAN DOGS

COMPLAINT OF ATTACKS.

INCIDENTS AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(Special to the " Guardian.") CHIUSTCHURCH, June 19.

What many people term the Alsatian dog menace is exercising the minds of a number of Christchurch residents. I'he news that an Ashburton woman was mauled by one of these dogs has prompted several people to complain of the attentions they have received from the animals. three of these complaints come from Woolston and aujacent districts where there are Alsatians. >

it tiie complaints made are to be believed—and they are made by respectable people oi 1 good .standing—the owner of one Alsatian in the VVooiston district is a little careless in keeping his dog under control. One woman, said to-day that an Alsatian which haunted tne street in which she lives was the worry Of her life. The dog jumps the high fence with effortless ease and investigates the contents of the rubbish bins which it leaves strewn all over the yard.

She is frightened to leave her baby on the lawn ill its pram to catch the winter sunshine for fear that the dog will pay a visit and injure the child, or at least knock the pram oyer. The dog, it is stated, has adopted a threatening attitude toward the woman and she is frightened to go out of doors when it is in the vicinity. A few days ago she returned home from a visit to find the dog doing sentry duty outside her gate. When she saw the dog she was frightened to attempt to enter the gate, fearing an attack,, and walked round the block until the dog should decide to abandon its post. The woman said that neighbours in the street also complained of this particular dog. One man had been made the unwelcome present of two badly mauled White. Leghorn hens which the dog had killed and brought to the house.

There were two owners of Alsatians in the street, but both of them denied that their dogs were ever off the chain unaccompanied. A resident of the ltadley district also had a tale to tell. An Alsatian dog is owned by a woman near his house. The other morning he went into the garden in time to see the dog making a meal off two of his prize bantams. He called out at the dog, which wheeled to attack him. He seized the axe from the nearby chopping block and the dog checked its spring, to escape by leaping the high fence. Another man living in the house was attacked without warning by the same dog. The animal sprang at him in the street and he dodged behind a lamp-post, round which dog sud man circled cautiously until the migx essayed a sudden foray into the road where he seized several pieces of road metal and drov© off the snarling dog.

There is a road in Riccarton which cyclists avoid. • An Alsatian there makes a practice of rushing out at them, it is alleged. So big is the dog that there is a risk of the cyclist being knocked off his machine, and the dog has been the subject of several complaints. '

It is the general opinion of all those complaining of the dogs that the city is not the place for such large animals. As an alternative, they suggest that the dogs should at least be muzzled.