Savage dogs’ get out of jail free card sparks calls for tougher laws

Dogs that mauled a horse will go free this week when their owners move to Queensland. It’s sparked calls for SA’s laws to make destroying dangerous pets easier.

Savage dogs that attack people and pets are being left to roam free in communities because councils are powerless to stop them, a Mid North council warns.

Its caution comes as the state government says it is “open to stronger measures” to control dangerous dogs and would be considering this during a review of the Dog and Cat Management Act next year.

It comes as two canines – that were already the subject of both dangerous and menacing dog control orders for attacking other animals – avoided destruction orders after mauling two horses in Stockport on Wednesday morning.

Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council impounded the dogs on Thursday but said the owners would be allowed to pick up them up on Friday ahead of relocating to Queensland.

The council’s chief executive officer Helen McDonald said the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal process made it difficult for councils to take further action against aggressive dogs.

Councils can apply to the magistrates court for destruction orders against dogs, while SACAT reviews inevitable appeals by owners.

However, Ms McDonald said the burden of proof required by the tribunal was so onerous that it was “very, very difficult” councils to win.

She said it was one of the council’s “biggest frustrations”.

The dogs still on the property after the attack. Picture Supplied

The two horses on Thursday. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Ms McDonald the district was home to “quite a few of these problem dogs” who have attacked adults, children and other animals, and SACAT needed to change its requirements so it could take action when necessary.

“We’ve had dogs that our general inspectors have been convinced that they really should be put down for the safety of other people’s pets and animals and even children but there’s no way that we can get that action undertaken given the way in which the tribunal operates,” Ms McDonald said.

“It takes months and months and it’s extremely costly for local government.”

A Stockport resident, who asked that her name be withheld, told The Advertiser she heard her horses “squealing” in distress and her neighbour frantically calling out her name before she rushed to the front of her property to see two dogs mauling her horses, aged 29 and 8, about 8.15am on Wednesday.

The dogs tore chunks of skin off the horses faces, leaving them traumatised and requiring urgent veterinary care.

The resident said while she was speaking to her neighbour after the incident, they heard “dogs fighting and a male voice shouting” nearby, suggesting another dog may have been attacked.

“Animals and humans all have the right to feel safe in their homes and in their environments,” she said.

The owners of the dog declined to comment when contacted by The Advertiser.

A government spokesman said: “The Marshall Liberal Government is open to stronger measures to control dogs and cats and will look at possible ways to achieve this when a long planned review of the Dog and Cat Management Act is undertaken next year”.

A Dog and Cat Management Board spokesman said SACAT become the review body for certain decisions of councils in 2018 and councils could still apply to a magistrate to make an order against a dog.