11/11/2025
Roma was attacked again today. Third time. Same dog. Same owner. Same pattern of total negligence.
The first attack was about four years ago in Gordon Spratt reserve. Two dogs, a black Labrador and a long-haired golden greyhound, rushed Roma while their owner drifted far behind, completely unaware. I chased the dogs away before it went super bad.
The second attack was about two years ago. I have the whole thing on video. Roma and I were minding our walk, the same dogs were roughly 50 metres away with no owner in sight, and the same golden greyhound sprinted at her and attacked. I reported it to the council. Apparently, the owner was instructed to keep the dog on lead and muzzled. But here we are, years later, with proof that nothing was followed and nothing has changed.
Today it happened again at Taylors Reserve. I open the car door, Roma steps out, and this same man unloads now FOUR dogs off lead in the car park. I recognise the greyhound immediately. All of them rush us. The greyhound attacks.
And once again, the owner is nowhere nearby until after I’ve already stepped in to protect my dog. When I confront him and tell him this is the third time, he responds with one phrase and walks away: “F**k off.”
This man, who has no control of his dogs and clearly no understanding of dog's behaviour, is an older gentleman in his 60s, often seen around the Papamoa area near Dickson Road (he lives in that area).
He usually walks the same golden long-haired greyhound and black lab - they are usually very far away from him, he has 0 control over them -, and today had TWO additional dogs off lead.
A person who can't control 2 dogs, and one of them is aggressive, walking 4 dogs off the lead!!!!!!!!
He also drives a red van.
Neighbours have been dealing with this behaviour for years. According to his own wife, he has hearing issues, which only adds to the danger when he chooses to walk multiple dogs.
As you know, I am someone who dedicates my life to dogs and to this community. I work hard to support dog owners, help dogs thrive, prevent behavioural issues, and make public spaces safer for everyone. I guide, I teach, I help. That’s what I pour my time, my training, and my heart into. I show up for people and their dogs every day.
And yet I keep ending up in this same nightmare with the same reckless owner.
With this disgusting man, there's no amount of education that you can teach, as he simply doesn't care about me or you.
Roma is the love of my life. She is a gentle, sweet, steady dog, and I am incredibly careful about her social world because I want to protect her beautiful personality.
Every time this man’s dog attacks her, it chips away at the trust I’ve spent years building for her. It chips away at mine too.
Every time this happened, I stepped in like a mama bear. I defended her. I chased the attacking dog off. I managed the situation before it escalates because I have the experience and the training to do it. But let me be very clear:
Most people would not be able to handle this.
Most people would panic, freeze, get injured, or watch their dog get severely hurt. The only reason these three attacks ended without tragedy is because I know how to intervene and I will always put myself between my dog and danger.
But no one in this community should have to.
I know this man’s name. I know where he lives. I have filed 2 reports with the council over the years. Others have too. Nothing has changed. He continues to walk his dogs off lead despite being instructed otherwise, including a dog with a known history of aggression.
If you’ve had similar issues with a man walking a golden long-haired greyhound and a black lab in the Papamoa area, please contact me privately. I’m gathering all incidents so I can escalate this properly with the council and present a unified, detailed case. This needs to stop, for Roma’s sake, for your dog’s sake, and for every person who uses our reserves.
I’m exhausted. I’m furious. And I’m done pretending this is just bad luck or an unfortunate encounter. This is a long-standing pattern of negligence, and it is time for real consequences before another dog gets hurt.
Tauranga Animal Services
