The two men jailed for owning a dog that attacked a little girl in January are now the subject of a second media witch hunt, this time over outrage that the pair are looking after another dog. Tabloid broadsheet Sunday Star-Times launched the campaign yesterday, which has since been picked up by most major dailies and radio news feeds, saying the pair have been seen walking a dog of similar breed to that which attacked 7-year-old Carolina Anderson in the same reserve where the attack took place. Brian Hill and Thomas Owen were the owners of an american staffordshire terrier which a court ruled had mauled Carolina in January. Both men were sentenced to two months in prison and their dog was destroyed. They maintain their dog was not responsible for the attack. 55-year-old Owen, who was gay-bashed while he was in prison, said: "I'm just looking after a friend's dog for a couple of weeks, it's very small and inoffensive and we're just housing it while she is away." He added that they had spoken to police before taking the dog, and were given the OK. They had also spoken to neighbours. Paul Holmes on his Newstalk ZB breakfast show this morning spoke to and berated Owen's lawyer Colin Amery and took calls from listeners on the subject. Holmes, who in one of his recent world-famous satirical routines complained of “vicious faggots” being after him, agreed with one caller who said that some people hate children and put dogs first.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 3rd November 2003 - 12:00pm