A Tasman man whose two dogs attacked a kekeno/fur seal for about 30 minutes has been fined $2000 and was ordered to have his dogs destroyed.
Sebastian Marinkovich was walking his two dogs, a retriever/labrador cross and a German shepherd/Siberian husky cross, on Kina Beach near Motueka on the afternoon of 7 September 2024. The beach is a designated dog exercise area.
The off-lead dogs spotted a kekeno and ran off uncontrolled, attacking the animal and causing wounds to its neck and head. The attack continued for about 30 minutes, despite the owner being nearby.
A member of the public saw the incident and called the Police, who went to the beach and talked to Marinkovich. He said by the time he got to the seal it was badly injured and he thought it was more humane to let the dogs continue their attack so the seal's suffering would end sooner.
The case was transferred to DOC, which prosecuted Marinkovich under the Dog Control Act. Appearing in Nelson District Court on Thursday afternoon, Marinkovich was sentenced to a $2000 fine and orders were made for destruction of both dogs.
DOC Biodiversity Ranger Dirk de Vries says its unacceptable for someone to allow their dogs to do this to protected native wildlife.
"This case is especially confronting because of how long the attack went on for, and the fact the owner made a decision not to intervene and allowed the dogs to continue," Dirk says.
"We know no dog owner wants their pet to attack kekeno or other native wildlife, but it's the owner's responsibility to keep their dog under control, even in unleashed dog exercise areas.
"Ideally dog owners would not get into a scenario in which their dog is attacking native wildlife in the first place. If you're at the beach or out naturing, keep your dog under effective control, stay alert and watch for wildlife, and if you think there is wildlife in the area, put your dog on a lead.
"If your dog does attack wildlife, you need to step in and get your dog away from the wildlife immediately, and then call DOC on 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)."
In the five years between 9 September 2020 and 12 August, DOC recorded 75 incidents of dogs attacking, killing or harassing seals or sea lions.
Dirk says any dog, even small or docile ones, can attack protected wildlife - it's not just untrained or aggressive dogs.
Under the Dog Control Act it's a serious offence to own a dog which attacks protected wildlife. The maximum penalty for owning a dog that attacks and kills protected wildlife is three years in prison, or a $20,000 fine. The Act also says the dog will be destroyed.
"DOC investigates all reported incidents of dogs attacking or harassing wildlife," says Dirk.
"The public can help us by reporting any incident involving a dog attacking wildlife by calling 0800 DOC HOT."
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