Coast puppy killed in horror dog attack on Gold Coast

A five-month-old puppy has been attacked and killed by another dog in a horrifying incident in one of the Gold Coast’s most popular suburbs. But the tragedy has raised questions over who is responsible. WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGES AND VIDEO

A FIVE-month-old puppy has been attacked and killed by another dog in a horrifying incident that has upset witnesses and has a neighbour concerned for the safety of children and other dogs in the area.

But a legal expert says it is unlikely the city can take strong action — even though the owners of the American staffordshire terrier-cross were unable to stop the brutal mauling — because it happened in the property containing the staffy, at Southport.

About 7.15am on Monday the staffy cross is believed to have attacked and killed a border collie-cross pup called Zeke after he strayed into the staffy’s yard.

Zeke a five-month-old border collie cross puppy was attacked and killed by a staffy after he strayed into the neighbouring property on the Gold Coast. Picture: supplied

The Gold Coast City Council is considering charging the owner of the staffy or declaring the dog dangerous. However, lawyer Bruce Simmonds, of Parker Simmonds Solicitors and Lawyers, says the responsibility lies with the pup’s owner.

“It’s a very sad situation but the person who owns the puppy didn’t contain the dog, they shouldn’t have let it get out,” he said.

“If the fence wasn’t in a suitable condition to contain the (staffy) dog, they (the staffy’s owners) might have some responsibility.”

The owners of the staffy have since offered to buy Zeke’s owner another puppy.

Zeke’s owner Alison Bailey said the pup’s death had left her devastated.

“He was a loving dog, he loved people, he loved dogs, he was very social,” she said.

A brown staffy (seen with another dog) has viciously mauled and killed a border collie puppy in a Gold Coast backyard. Picture: supplied

“I never got to say goodbye to him. He’s always going to be in my heart.”

Ms Bailey was not at home when the incident occurred.

She said her flatmate said she saw a dog grab the pup through a poorly repaired fence shared with the neighbours.

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She said the dog did not let Zeke go despite the owners’ intervention.

A woman who lives nearby and declined to be named said her child was woken by the furore.

“The girl (the flatmate of the pup’s owner) was screaming and yelling,” she said.

“The owners of the two aggressive dogs were hitting one of the dogs with a pole but it didn’t let go.’’

The brindle dog is not believed to be the instigator of the attack. Picture: supplied

The chocolate staffy believed to be behind the horror attack. Picture: supplied

The woman said the commotion continued for more than 15 minutes.

In a video supplied to the Gold Coast Bulletin, the brown staffy can be seen sniffing, nuzzling, biting and tossing the pup’s limp body.

The attack left the nearby resident shocked and fearing for children and pets.

“I don’t want to see it happen to another dog — or a child,” the woman said.

“I’m just a bit concerned for my child.

“I don’t see the reason they’d have these sort of dogs in suburbia. It’s left me feeling anxious.”

The pup’s body was removed from the property and buried at the home of Ms Bailey’s mother.

In the video, the dog can be seen nuzzling the body and shaking its limbs. Picture: supplied

Ms Bailey said she wants the staffy put down, but the council had told her it cannot euthanise the dog.

“They can declare the dog dangerous but they can only put it down if it attacks another dog when it’s declared,” she said.

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A council spokesman said officers were still investigating, including inspecting the properties.

“When this is complete a decision will be made about what action will be taken. The city has a number of options available including declaring the dog as a ‘regulated dog’, which places significant restrictions on the dog and its owners, or prosecution,” the spokesman said.

“The council takes aggressive dogs in the community very seriously and will take action against any owners and their dogs where an offence can be proven.”

The spokesman said officers went to the properties within an hour of receiving the complaint. There was no previous history of dogs at the property where the staffy lived wandering or attacking other dogs.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said it was sad and a “bit of a grey area’’ because the attack happened in the staffy’s yard.

“We can only get involved in matters where a person has been cruel to animals,” he said of the RSPCA’s powers.

Originally published as Coast puppy killed in horror dog attack on Gold Coast