Council animal management investigators question grandmother over Yatala dog attack

The grandmother of a young girl savaged in a terrifying dog attack has met with council animal management officers as an investigation into the mauling ramps up.

Animal management investigators have interviewed the owner of a Gold Coast property where a three-year-old girl was savagely mauled in a dog attack.

The young girl was rushed to the Queensland Children’s Hospital in a serious condition last Wednesday after she was set upon at the Yatala home she shares with her mother and grandmother.

Officers from the Gold Coast City Council’s animal management unit seized four dogs including German shepherds and mastiff breeds, but exactly which dog or dogs were responsible for the vicious attack is the subject of an investigation involving the council and Queensland Police.

Gold Coast City Council animal management investigators at the scene of last week’s dog attack at Yatala. Picture: Jeremy Pierce

It is understood no one else saw the start of the attack, with the young girl’s mother and grandmother rushing to her aid after hearing her terrifying screams.

Her family stayed by her side during the first days of her stay in hospital, but grandmother Jodi Switzer was met at the property by investigators from the council’s animal management team Monday morning.

Ms Switzer declined to comment when approached by The Courier-Mail.

Gold Coast City Council animal management investigators on Monday, at the scene of last week’s dog attack, at Yatala. Picture: Jeremy Pierce

Last week, a family friend told media outside the home that he believed the attack had been an accident as the young girl was caught in the middle of a play fight involving the dogs.

It is understood the toddler and her mother had just moved to the Gold Coast from Victoria and they brought their pet dog with them.

The property was already home to several dogs, which had been the subject of several complaints to council.

Neighbours described the dogs as “scary”, but council confirmed there were no menacing or dangerous dog restrictions in place.

One of the dogs being removed from the property.

Pictures: Nigel Hallett

The young girl, who suffered serious injuries to her head and neck including deep puncture wounds, was still recovering in hospital on Monday and was in a stable condition.

A council spokesperson said the investigation was “ongoing”.

It was the second dog attack involving a young child in as many days in southeast Queensland, while several other incidents saw adults attacked.

The first attack happened last Monday at Woodridge, when a six-year-old girl was dragged off a fence and mauled while she was playing. Laquarna Chapman Palmer suffered serious injuries in the attack.

The spate has raised questions over the State government’s dangerous dog task force, which was established 18 months ago but has yet to announce any reforms.