Authorities issue urgent warning after spike in dog attacks

Paramedics are attending two serious dog attacks a week, many involving children, sparking an urgent call for dog owners and parents to be on alert.

An alarming spate of dog attacks – many involving children – could be linked to Queenslanders buying pets during the Covid pandemic, experts say.

Paramedics are attending two significant dog attacks each week and last month responded to 18 animal-related incidents.

It comes as Gympie four-year-old Ace Elson remains in hospital with significant facial injuries after he was bitten on the face by a dog at a birthday party at Widgee on Sunday.

Ace Elson, 4, was left hospitalised following a dog bite near Gympie.

QAS clinical director Lachlan Parker said authorities had identified a “concerning trend” in dog-related incidents – many that had resulted in significant rehabilitation in hospital.

“We have identified a concerning trend over the last couple of months,” QAS clinical director Lachlan Parker said.

“Over the last two or three months we’ve seen about nine bites per month. They are often not clean lacerations and quite jagged and deep and subsequently they can haemorrhage a lot and cause a lot of bleeding.

“They do range in severity but unfortunately we do see a large number of very serious injuries.”

Maria Temelkos, 49, with her cocker spaniel Jax after being attacked by a dog at Rainbow Bay. Picture: Sam Stolz

RSPCA dog behaviour trainer De Durdevic said the spate of attacks could be because of the high number of pets that were taken home during Covid lockdowns.

“Over Covid we saw almost everyone get a puppy, get a dog, and now everyone wants to take that dog out and about,” she said.

Ms Durdevic said there was no particular breed of dog that was more susceptible to lashing out.

“Any animal can bite, it’s just a matter of the circumstance,” she said.

“As an adult if you’re managing that dog, manage it properly and make sure you are advocating for your dog.”

As well as getting consent from the owner of a dog, Ms Durdevic stressed it was also critical for children and parents to look for visual cues from the dog before going in for a pat.

“We really need to realise that as much as we encourage kids and adults to ask the owner for consent, it’s really important to ask the dog for consent as well,” she said.

“Just a simple pat on the leg … to see if the dog will engage with you to judge if you can interact with that dog.”

A number of young children have been horrifically mauled by dogs across the state this month.

Teddy Bracek was bitten by a dog in Currumbin.

One week before Ace Elson was bitten near Gympie, another young boy was attacked when he stopped to pat a British bulldog in Currumbin.

Shortly after 8am last Sunday, Andy Bracek and his six-year-old son Teddy were walking along Pacific Parade when they stopped for coffee.

CCTV footage shows the young boy petting the dog before it turned on him and attacked.

Teddy suffered a deep cut to his forearm and was rushed to hospital where he received stitches and two minor surgeries.

In December last year, a single dad was left devastated after his five-year-old son was mauled to death by a dog on Christmas Eve in Varsity Lakes.

Mr Parker said as well as physical scars, dog attack victims could also experience psychological impacts.

“Generally dogs are very safe but not all dogs are safe and it’s something everyone needs to be mindful of,” he said.

“Whilst the medical injuries always repair and heal, sometimes there are psychological impacts associated with those animal bites as well.”

List of recent dog attacks

April 24 – A boy was airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital in a stable condition with significant facial injuries following a dog bite on private property at Widgee

April 23 – A boy was taken in a stable condition to Queensland Children’s Hospital with facial injuries after a dog bite at a private residence at Mount Gravatt East

April 18 – A boy was taken in a stable condition to Townsville Hospital with facial injuries after a dog bite at a private residence at Condon

April 17 – A man sustained facial injuries and was transported stable to Princess Alexandra Hospital after a dog bite at Victoria Point

April 17 – A boy with arm injuries was taken in a stable condition to Gold Coast University Hospital after a dog bite at a location on Pacific Parade in Currumbin

April 15 – Two men sustained hand and arm injuries following a dog bite on Lower King Street at Caboolture. Both were transported to Caboolture Hospital in stable conditions

April 4 – Paramedics were called to a private address at 8.23am for a man in his 60s who sustained significant head and arm injuries after being bitten by a dog at Agnes Water. The patient was airlifted by rescue helicopter to Rockhampton Hospital in a stable condition

April 3 – A boy sustained multiple wounds following a dog bite at a private residence in Caloundra. He was taken in a stable condition to Sunshine Coast University Hospital

April 3 – A Woman in her 20s was taken in a stable condition to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with hand injuries after a dog bite at a location off Lamington Street in New Farm