Owner claims in court that dangerous dog is dead

Friday, 10 July 2026

A dog that attacked a woman on Morgans Rd, Timaru, has been put down, its owner claimed in the Timaru District Court on Tuesday.

The owner of a dangerous dog with an “extensive history” has been told to produce evidence supporting claims in the Timaru District Court that it has been put down.

Deka, a female Staffordshire bull terrier, has the extensive history with the Timaru District Council, according to a summary of facts, related to two charges, admitted by its owner in court on Tuesday.

The dog was first classified as menacing under the Dog Control Act in June 2020 after it broke free from its tether and caused minor injuries to another dog.

In February 2024, Deka jumped out a window and attacked another dog which was walking past on the footpath, while its latest attack was on a woman walking her dog on Morgans Road, Timaru, on December 27, 2025.

From 2020 to 2025, the owner of the dog, Jesse William Hansen, had been issued with a number of council infringements, including failing to register the dog, failing to implant a microchip and failing to comply with menacing dog requirements.

The summary says Hansen had also hidden the dog on one occasion, so the council was unable to take further action.

Council did seize the dog on November 7, 2025, for failing to be registered and for failing to comply with the menacing classification as it had not been microchipped.

Deka, a female Staffordshire bull terrier, attacked a woman out walking her own dog on Morgans Rd, Timaru, on December 27, 2025.

The dog was later released to Hansen after the fees were paid and microchipping carried out.

On Tuesday, Hansen pleaded guilty to charges, related to the December 2025 incident, of owning a dog which attacked another person, and obstruction of a dog control officer in refusing to disclose the location of the dog.

The victim of that attack was walking her dog with a friend when Hansen’s dog escaped from a property through an open front door, rushed across the road and attacked her.

Deka bit the victim’s lower leg, causing six puncture wounds.

When the victim attempted to push the dog away, Deka bit her left index finger, splitting her fingernail, and causing further injury.

“The attack ceased only when a male from the property ran across the road, and physically removed the dog.”

The summary says the victim required hospital treatment for the wounds which were cleaned, treated with antibiotics and dressed. She was also given pain medication.

When spoken to by council’s dog control officers, Hansen “acknowledged he was the owner of the dog at the time of the incident, but said it was under the care of his partner”.

Judge Mark Callaghan told Jesse William Hansen that the Timaru District Court would need to see certification from a vet confirming that his menacing dog had been put down.

“His partner’s five-year-old child had left the front door open, allowing the dog to escape the property.”

When dog control officers later approached the defendant again seeking to uplift the dog, the defendant refused to disclose the dog’s location.

When the council sought destruction of the dog, saying its whereabouts were unknown, Hansen claimed that it had already been put down.

Judge Mark Callaghan told Hansen that the court would need certification from a vet confirming that Deka had been put down.

Hansen also told the court he would pay the medical expenses incurred by victim of $185.50. The maximum penalty for both offences is a fine not exceeding $3000.

Hansen was remanded on bail for sentencing on August 18.