A dog owner in Avatiu has been told to put his dog down.

Police spokesman Trevor Pitt confirmed this yesterday, after a second dog bite incident this month.

Pitt said the recent dog bite incident on Friday night at the Avatiu backroad involved a motorcyclist who was heading home.

He said police would follow-up with the owner today.

The first incident was a week ago when a man took a walk from his residence and was suddenly attacked by a neighbouring dog.

The dog had ripped the lower part of his right leg.

Police had earlier stated that their Dog Ranger Officers are being bolstered in their efforts to deal with menacing animals.

The larger number of attacks were on livestock and other animals.

Police say the owners of uncontrolled dogs are liable for prosecution.

Last month, more than 20 dogs were put down by the police and from July to December last year, 174 dogs were put down.

From the 174 dogs, over 20 per cent were reported attacks on animals and three per cent were attacks on people.

Around 30 per cent of the dogs that have been put down were wild dogs and nine per cent were strays.

A week ago, the Police Commissioner Turepu James Keenan approved warrants for Cook Islands SPCA Mata Nooroa and David Pokia and also Dr Michael Baer of Te Are Manu Veterinary Clinic. This was to help provide support in assisting police with dog control.

Chris Denny's Cook Islands Security team are expected to receive their warrant this week.

Denny says they will respond immediately to any dog problems as CIS dog rangers are on call 24/7.

He said CIS will be working with police to help with the animal control service starting with dog issues.

The representatives are appointed for 12 months, authorising them to assist the Police Dog Ranger team, in the efforts to manage the issues associated with dogs around Rarotonga.

Meanwhile, police arrested three people in the weekend and attended to motor vehicle crashes.

A driver suspected to have been under the influence of alcohol was hospitalised after he crashed near the Hartal Store in Tupapa. Police attended to the incident.

Pitt said the driver was observed to have sustained a cut on the head. 

“The doctors tend to keep the head bumps overnight for observation due to concussion impacts,” he said.

A blood specimen analysis was sought.

The other two arrest cases involved two who are alleged to have breached court orders, and one female charged with assault.

Police also attended to complaints involving drunken behaviour, excessive noise and one stolen motorbike.