Dog attacked woman at Petrie park as owner watched

A woman who was attacked by a dog while its owner was just metres away has implored people to keep their dogs on the leash.

A WOMAN who was attacked by a dog while its owner was just metres away has implored people to keep their dogs on the leash.

Kate Moore was attacked by a dog on December 20 during an early morning run through Sweeney Reserve at Petrie, in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area.

Mayor Allan Sutherland revealed there were 730 dog attacks in 2018 and deplored irresponsible pet ownership as a “stain” on the community.

Girl scarred for life after attack

Changes to off-leash beach

Mrs Moore said the dog was off the leash and when the owner called to his dog it started running towards her, baring its teeth.

“Then it came behind me and bit me just above the knee on the back of the leg,” she said.

“I remember looking at it’s mouth and seeing it’s teeth. It was an unprovoked, aggressive attack.”

There have been 730 dog attacks in the Moreton Bay Regional Council area in 2018. Picture: File

Mrs Moore said the man called the dog away and apologised and said the dog had never attacked anyone before.

“He said ‘he didn’t bite you did he?’ I said ‘yes, he did’ and I showed him the bite. It was really obvious because of the big hole in my tights,” she said.

Then, she said, the owner walked away.

Mrs Moore went to the doctor and was given a tetanus shot and prescribed antibiotics.

She said the majority of dog owners were “fantastic” but that she saw at least one dog off-leash every week.

“One lady (who’s dog was off-leash) said to me, ‘he doesn’t bite, he never bites’ and I said, ‘that’s what the owner of the last dog that bit me said’,” Mrs Moore said.

“It’s made me fairly wary of dogs. If he kept him on the leash, it wouldn’t have happened. It’s as simple as that.”

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland urged residents to report mistreatment of animals or irresponsible pet ownership to the council. Picture: File

Cr Sutherland said it was the “latest in a spate of dog attacks that are the fault of irresponsible owners”.

“What’s most shocking to me is that the dog’s owner left the scene without identifying themselves or leaving contact details,” he said.

“I was equally shocked by information released by the RSPCA earlier this month showing that some of the worst suburbs for animal cruelty are here in the Moreton Bay Region.

“Enough is enough, we are calling on the community to report any mistreatment and irresponsible pet ownership so that our officers can erase this stain from our communities.”