‘Without warning’: Toddler mauled by dangerous dog during daycare outing in Melbourne’s suburbs

Three-year-old Daphne was enjoying a preschool day out in central Melbourne when she was savagely attacked, leaving her bloodied and shaken.

On 6 May, three-year-old Daphne Demirkol was playing with the other children from her early learning centre on the grounds of Abbotsford Convent under the care of her teachers. A number of children were engaged with nature activities and Daphne and several other children were seated on the lawn.

Without warning, a woman walking two dogs — one which later reports described as a being “short, brindle brown in colour and having a Staffordshire Bull Terrier appearance’ and the other as ‘large, with wiry, shaggy cream-coloured hair” — approached the children.

The woman called out “doggie, doggie!” to the children, which encouraged them to pat the dogs.

Before any of the teachers could intervene the woman brought the dogs towards Daphne, who stood up.

That was when the smaller dog attacked.

The teachers ran straight towards Daphne’s cries but it was too late. She had been scratched repeatedly on the right side of her face and bitten near her mouth.

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The dog, which appeared to be a staffy, scratched and bit Daphne’s face. Picture: Supplied

Some witnesses thought that the woman walking the dogs then attempted to leave the area until a teacher apprehended her and demanded that she reveal her name and contact details.

After initially giving the wrong details to the teacher, the woman admitted that the dogs were not hers and she was walking them for someone else.

She was later tracked down by Yarra Council. The owners of the dog were informed what had happened and the matter has been referred to lawyers.

According to Daphne’s mother, Denise, the attack highlights what she sees as the growing problem of potentially aggressive or dangerous dogs being walked or otherwise supervised by people who are unqualified and inexperienced in the proper ways to handle them. She believes that no dog walker with proper training would have walked the dogs up to the children without warning or permission from the teachers.

“The children weren’t trying to play with the dog or trying to pat the dog or anything,” Denise says. “The dog walker just walked straight up to the children before anyone could stop her. I understand that accidents can happen with dogs but this could have been avoided.”

Dog walking businesses are becoming increasingly common in Australia as many pet owners find they don’t have the time to walk their dogs themselves.

The toddler was left with injuries that required hospital treatment. Picture: Supplied

Daphne was taken to hospital in a taxi because an ambulance couldn't come quickly enough. Picture: Supplied

Some are run by professionals who have qualifications in dog handling and care or backgrounds working in vets or other relevant experience.

But there are no formal entry requirements for anyone who wants to offer their services as a dog walker, no matter how inexperienced or unqualified they may be. Anyone can put flyers around their neighbourhood and offer dog walking services as a way to make extra cash.

Credible Uber-style pet services like Mad Paws and Pawshake vet their dog walkers to ensure that they are reliable and genuine dog-lovers, and cover them with insurance in case of accidents, but neither requires that their dog walkers have any formal training or qualifications.

Tamsin MacLennan ISCP Ad. Dip. Canine. Prac has been running her Melbourne dog walking business Paws Outdoors since 2014. Unlike many of the dog walkers she sees on her walks today, she is a certified canine behavioural practitioner, with several degrees in dog psychology, nutrition and first aid.

Over the years she has become increasingly concerned with the influx of unqualified and inexperienced dog walkers she sees taking care of other people’s pets.

“Many unqualified people will offer a discounted rate to walk dogs to make some extra cash, and believe they’re experienced enough to do so,” she says. “But the consequences can be dire — not just for children, but also other members of the general public and other dogs.”

“Certified handlers such as myself would not put dogs in any social situation where other people or dogs are at risk.

“I deal with aggressive, fearful dogs all the time, but would never, ever place these dogs in a situation that would cause harm to the general public or the dog.”

She says that even many supposedly professional dog walking businesses don’t employ people who are properly qualified. Dog owners who employ someone unqualified are taking unnecessary risks.

“Would you leave your baby or child with someone you did not know who was not certified to a high standard? Of course not!” she says. “The same applies to your dog.”

Potential dog walkers should also consider the consequences of an accident happening on their watch. It’s not the owner who is likely to be liable should any attack occur under a dog walker’s control. According to Victoria’s Domestic Animals Act 1994, “the person in apparent control of the dog at the time of the attack or biting, whether or not the owner of the dog, is guilty of an offence.”

The dog that attacked Daphne was described as a staffy. Picture: iStock

The laws are similar in other Australian states.

And if a dog attacks a person or another dog in such a way that causes death or serious injury, they may have to be put down.

Thankfully, Daphne has mostly recovered from her injuries. The little girl still loves dogs but now understandably becomes quite fearful when she sees one.

“It could have been a lot worse and thankfully the dog didn’t attack her eyes or her lips,” she says. “But I don’t think it would have happened if the owner had been walking the dog or if someone with training was walking the dog. My thinking is that because dog walking is probably one of the easiest jobs you can get, the dog walker wanted to make money but didn’t necessarily know what she was doing.”

Alex Carlton is a freelance writer. Continue the conversation @Alex_Carlton

Originally published as ‘Without warning’: Toddler mauled by dangerous dog during daycare outing in Melbourne’s suburbs