Roaming killer dogs maul backyard pets

YOUNG girl cries herself to sleep as pet geese, chickens, killed in the backyard of her quiet suburban Stanthorpe home.

PART OF THE FAMILY: Seven-year-old Autumn with Ruby, the lone surviving chicken of a vicious dog attack. Picture: Matthew Purcell

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Stanthorpe girl cried herself to sleep on Monday night after her beloved pet Mummy Goose was killed in her backyard.

The bloodied bodies of two pet geese and four chickens were found, along with two strange dogs, in the Neil family's suburban backyard on Monday afternoon.

Corinea Neil said she and her youngest daughter, Autumn, were in Brisbane for medical appointments on Monday when a neighbour rang to tell them there were dogs in their yard.

"My poor daughter ... she bawled herself to sleep,” Ms Neil said, adding she was terrified to think what would have happened if she and Autumn were home when the pets were killed.

"If my daughter had been home and saw them attacking Mummy Goose and her other friends, she probably would have got bitten trying to save them herself.”

Mummy Goose, 10 years old, was a "special member of the family” who guarded the yard and played with Autumn.

"(Autumn) used to pat her, sit with her and talk to her,” Ms Neil said.

"It was just quite a cherished pet in our family.”

Ms Neil thanked Southern Downs Regional Council, which quickly sent officers to her home and even offered to "bag the bodies” of the dead animals, which were strewn across her yard.

"I didn't want to have to come back and for (Autumn) to have to see the bodies,” she said.

Two dogs found in the backyard were removed by council officers.

It is unclear whether these animals were those responsible for the attack.

A witness who asked not to be identified said the animals were not bloodied and the kills did not appear "fresh” when the dead animals and the dogs were discovered.

Southern Downs Regional Council confirmed two red, male staffordshire terrier crossbreeds were removed from the property on Monday just after 4pm.

The younger dog was microchipped but the registered phone number is disconnected and its owner had not yet been contacted, a statement from the council said. Both dogs are being kept by the council.

Asked by the Border Post whether it was believed the dogs in the yard were the ones that killed the geese and chickens, and if so whether they would be put down, the spokesperson said the incident was still being investigated.

The council spokesperson urged animal owners to be responsible and "not to encourage them to wander” or roam.

"Animals should be properly secured at all times,” the spokesperson said. "If animals are found to be at large (wandering) and the owner is identified, council can issue a fine.

"More information on local laws and on wandering and straying animals can be found on council's website.”

Ms Neil said she had "thankfully” taken her dog, a small maltese terrier, with her to Brisbane but she has two cats which would likely have been outside when the attack happened and one was still missing.

One chicken, Ruby, had survived the attack.

Ms Neil said she was afraid to return home as she was unsure whether the dogs responsible had been locked up.

"I'm worried they'll come back because once they get a taste of blood they might go back to hunt where they've hunted before,” she said.

"It's important for people to realise this happens sometimes in a residential area, and for people to realise the damage their animals can do.”