New Windsor dog attack: Owner sentenced after pit bull mauled elderly woman
An Auckland dog owner has been sentenced to four months of community detention after her American pit bull terrier escaped and severely mauled a 74-year-old woman. The dog, which was previously classified as menacing, has since been euthanised.
Why it matters
Highlights ongoing public safety concerns and legal accountability surrounding dangerous dog breeds and owner responsibilities.
A dog owner has been sentenced to four months’ community detention after her pit bull attacked a 74-year-old woman walking home with her grandson, tearing away part of her calf.
The woman needed a skin graft and spent several days in hospital after the attack in Auckland suburb New Windsor about midday on June 21 last year.
The dog, Nala, rushed through an open front gate at a Dickey St property and bit the woman’s right calf.
Nala, a female American pit bull terrier, had been classified as menacing since March 2024.
Its owner, Marieta Toalepai, had previously received infringement notices for failing to keep the animal under control, an Auckland Council spokesperson said.
Toalepai was away when the attack happened but arrived shortly afterwards and helped the victim.
She later voluntarily relinquished ownership of Nala to the council.
The dog has since been euthanised, the spokesperson confirmed.
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