Bite victim now pit bull fan | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Tina Henderson has vivid memories of a dog attack which ripped her leg open about three years ago.

Nowadays, however, she is an advocate for the pit bull breed, which left her seriously injured when she was living in Hamilton.

"I knew the dog, he was on a chain most of the time," Mrs Henderson said.

"I was visiting the property and when I left I realised I had left my phone inside. I went back and the dog just flew at me, locked on to my leg and ripped it open.

"I was terrified of all [dog] breeds, it took months to heal ... but then later on I took a pit bull puppy off a friend because it needed a home. I have it now and I adore my dog," she said.

Her pit bull was raised with her children who "love and adore their pet", which sleeps with their cat.

"They play together as if she were a cat herself."

Mrs Henderson grew up in Hawke's Bay and moved back to the region last week. She had been following Hawke's Bay Today's reports on changes to animal control bylaws in Hastings and Napier.

Hastings District Council, in particular, has taken a hard line on dangerous and menacing dogs, with a view to removing pit bull breeds from the community.

Mrs Henderson said pit bulls dogs had to be raised professionally, with the right dose of discipline and care.

"I'm not saying they can't do damage ... but I think the thing is understanding the breed. I've had my pit bull since it was a puppy and there's no way I'd take one that was 2 years old because I don't know the dog," she said.

"Having been in an attack, I wouldn't take on any dog that I didn't know."

The message she wanted to give to councils was to "ban the bad owners, not the breed".

"There are a lot of pit bulls crossed with staffis [staffordshire bull terriers]. That's where the problem lies," she said.

"They're saying adopt the UK model to ban certain breeds.

"I believe that's wrong and I'm quite happy to say I'm not going to let anyone tell me to put my dog down, I would rather do time for it."