Eight dog attacks a day: Councils’ plans to bite back

Lizzie was seven when a neo mastiff mauled her face and five years on she still requires surgery on her face. See Greater Brisbane’s worst regions for attacks. WARNING: Distressing images

THERE were more than 3000 dog attacks reported to councils across Brisbane in the past 12 months, with more than half of the incidents involving dogs attacking people.

Across the same region, there are 1067 dogs declared as dangerous or menacing.

Lizzie Wingrove was just seven when she was bitten on the face by Hank, a neo ­mastiff, in 2016 at Rothwell, scarring her for life.

“There was no growl, he just jumped up and bit me,” Lizzie said.

 

 

Lizzie Wingrove, 12, four years after she was attacked by a dog in her own street. Lizzie is still undergoing plastic surgery to minimise the scaring. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

 

Lizzie was attacked by Hank the neo mastiff in Rothwell in 2016. She was forced to live next to the dog after his owners’ appealed to QCAT.

She was rushed to hospital and required plastic surgery to repair the hole in her face.

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR A COUNCIL BY COUNCIL BREAKDOWN

 

Twice the courts decided the dog should be destroyed, but the dog’s owners appealed and a third court finding determined Hank should be allowed to move back home – to live in the same street where the incident ­occurred and Lizzie lived.

Lizzie, now 12, said that she was still “nervous” around most dogs.

“When we are walking past dogs, I’ll go to the other side of Mum,” she said.

The attack has left more than just an emotional mark on Lizzie – she still has a scar on her cheek, where the plastic surgeons repaired the hole.

She will need another ­surgery within two years as she grows.

Lizzie’s mum Veronica Wingrove has been a strong advocate for tougher legislation surrounding dangerous dogs since the attack.

 

 

Veronica Wingrove with her daughter Lizzie, 12, are both calling for tougher legislation around dangerous dogs. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

She said there needed to be changes to legislation to prevent incidents such as this happening again and more consistency across the state so that “community safety comes first”.

The incident prompted Moreton Bay Regional Council to adopt a zero-tolerance to dangerous dogs.

There were 1354 attacks reported in the Brisbane City Council region, 735 in ­Moreton, 781 in Logan and 341 in Redlands City in the past 12 months.

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said 99 per cent of dog owners did the right thing.

“It’s simply not good enough to blame an animal for a person’s negligence anymore,” he said.

Cr Flannery said last month the council sent four dog owners to court after ­investigations found their negligence had enabled their animals to pose a threat to other people or animals.

Reported attacks were down slightly when compared with 2019, with councils ­saying Covid-19 lockdowns could be a cause.

Brisbane City Council city standards community health and safety chair Kim Marx said that the council was ­dedicated to doing what it could to ensure “our beloved four-legged friends can be safe in our city”.

“Responsible pet ownership at home and in public is incredibly important,” Cr Marx said.

“We expect all pet owners to register their dog, ensure their animal is under effective control at all times when in public and ensure they are safely secure at home.”

Here is a breakdown of each council area and council’s plans to tackle the problem:

MORETON BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL

On average there are two dog attacks a day in the Moreton Bay region with 735 attacks reported in 2020.

Of the attacks 208 involved a dog attacking a person and 175 a dog attacking another animal.

Caboolture, a suburb within the Moreton council region, is the worst suburb for animal cruelty, with 178 animal welfare complaints made to the RSPCA in 2020.

Just last month a professional dog walker was fined $2500 by Caboolture Magistrates Court after she was found to be responsible for allowing 10 dogs to roam free in the Rocksberg Heritage Reserve where they viciously attacked livestock.

Council rangers discovered the pack of dogs attacking a cow in the Caboolture River within the reserve which is a dog on-leash area.

The dog handler was 300m away from the dogs and had no control over the animals.

Moreton Mayor Peter Flannery said council had a zero-tolerance policy on dangerous dogs.

“The council rangers intervened and ended the attack on the poor cow, but it could have been much worse if they weren’t there,” Cr Flannery said.

“If these animals are capable of attacking a large animal like a cow, imagine what dangerous dogs could do to your child, other dogs or other domesticated animals like cats.

“Most dog owners are responsible animal lovers, but if left in the wrong hands dangerous dogs can destroy lives and leave mental scarring that lasts a lifetime.

“I hope this makes dog owners think about the people they’re leaving their beloved animals with and accreditation doesn’t mean they’re responsible.

Dash the whippet was lucky to survive an attack from a dog that allegedly escaped its property in Woody Point.

“Council is currently undergoing a local laws review which will look at how many dogs a person is allowed to handle in a public space, because of situations like this.”

The dog handler was fined and ordered to pay $108 in costs, no conviction was recorded.

In November 2020, a Deception Bay man was convicted and fined $10,000 in the Pine Rivers Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges of irresponsible pet ownership. The man owned a dog that attacked a teenage girl and later a council ranger.

Council conducts an annual regulated dog inspection program to monitor dog owner’s compliance with mandatory conditions for keeping a regulated dog.

This year’s program commenced on 1 April 2021 and the inspection of 382 regulated dogs will conclude on 30 June 2021.

Caboolture has the greatest number of regulated dogs with 39, followed by Kallangur with 33.

There are 18 in Morayfield and 16 in Deception Bay.

REDLANDS CITY COUNCIL

Redlands City Council had the lowest rate of dog attacks in the Greater Brisbane region with just 341 reports in the 2020/21 financial year.

Of these attack 101 attacks were to other dogs and 45 to people.

From 2018-2021 a total of 10 dogs had died or been euthanised as a result of injuries sustained in a dog attack.

One of these was German shepherd Rippa, who was attacked two Staffordshire terriers while on a walk with his owner in Alexandra Hills in May 2019.

Police were called to the incident and only managed to separate the dogs with the use of capsicum spray.

Rippa’s owners had to euthanise their pet due to the injuries.

There are just 54 declared dangerous dogs in the Redlands. Birkdale has the highest number of dangerous dogs with nine, followed by Alexandra Hilla with seven and Capalaba with six.

A Redlands City Council spokeswoman said 1648 infringement notices had been issued between 2018 and 2021 for various animal related offences.

“Officers undertake patrols across the City to ensure compliance with Council’s Local Law and State legislation,” the spokeswoman said.

“Dog owners who are exercising their dogs off leash are issued an infringement notice, or if a dog is found straying, it may be impounded. Officers are currently undertaking an animal registration inspection program and educating animal owners on responsible pet ownership. “Council reminds dog owners to ensure their dogs are secured within their enclosure and being walked on lead when in a public place.”

BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL

There were a total of 1354 dog attacks reported in the Brisbane City Council area in 2020 – a decrease on the 1432 reported in 2019.

Of the attacks reported in 2020 590 were against people and 762 against animals.

Across the city there are 354 dogs declared as dangerous and 120 declared as menacing.

Brisbane City Council city standards community health and safety chair Kim Marx said the council was dedicated to doing what it can to ensure “our beloved four-legged friends can be safe in our city”.

“Responsible pet ownership at home and in public is incredibly important,” Cr Marx said.

“We expect all pet owners to register their dog, ensure their animal is under effective control at all times when in public and ensure they are safely secure at home.”

Brisbane City Council did not provide statistics on how many of the dog attacks had resulted in a fatality.

LOGAN CITY COUNCIL

Logan City Council received 781 reports of dog attacks in the past 12 months – which was close to a 30 per cent drop on the number reported in the 2019/2020 financial year.

Council did not provide details on how many of these attacks were against another animals or people.

Boronia Heights couple’s dog Buster (pictured) and their two other dogs were attacked while out walking.

In November last year a Logan couple were left traumatised after their three small dogs were mauled – with one being killed and another injured.

The couple from Boronia Heights were walking their 11-year-old chihuahua Rouge and Maltese Shih tzus Missy and Buster when a dog escaped from its front yard and attacked.

Rogue suffered fatal chest injuries while Missy had to spend days in intensive care. Buster also required emergency surgery.

There are 87 regulated dangerous dogs in Logan City and 70 regulated menacing dogs.

A council spokeswoman said if a dog did attack another person or animal council wanted to hear about it.

“In some serious cases, a dog may be declared a dangerous or menacing animal. The

owners then will have to comply with strict keeping conditions,” the spokeswoman said.

She said dog attacks can be prevented by registering and microchipping dogs, walking dogs on a short lead, not allowing kids to pat other people’s dogs, ensure dogs cannot escape from your yard, desexing and appropriate training and socialisation.