Yarrabah mayor Ross Andrews and Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service chief Suzanne Andrews concerned over increasing dog attacks

A Far North community which recorded 53 dog attacks in 2022 with two serious injuries in the past four weeks, as leaders calling for owners to restrain aggressive animals and keep them off the streets.

A SECOND serious dog attack in a month required a woman to be flown to Cairns Hospital and has the Yarrabah mayor demanding owners step up and be responsible.

Data supplied by the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Service revealed 53 people presented with dog bite injuries tothe Yarrabah Emergency Department last year, 10 less than in 2021.

But Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Mayor Ross Andrews said one bite was too many and the community was fed up.

There have been 19 dog bite presentations so far in 2023.

The Yarrabah community has experienced a number of serious dog attacks in 2023 after the town’s emergency department recorded 53 bite presentations in 2022. File Picture: Supplied

And the chief executive of the Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services (GYHS) Suzanne Andrews said staff and patients were concerned as there had been more dog attacks in the Yarrabah community in recent weeks.

Cr Andrews said people should not allow their aggressive animals to wander unrestrained.

“Earlier this week a woman, 22, was severely bitten,” Cr Andrews said.

“My understanding of the circumstances was the lady was mauled by three dogs while she was in Workshop St.

“I heard later that our animal management team accompanied by Queensland Police officer seized the dogs for impoundment.”

Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews said he was very concerned too many animal owners are allowing aggressive dog to wander around the town unrestrained. File Picture: Nuno Avendano

A Cairns and Hinterland Hospital Health Service spokesman confirmed a Yarrabah woman suffering from dog bites was discharged from Cairns Hospital on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cr Andrews said residents deserved to be able to walk around their town in safety.

He said the shire has a partnership agreement with the Cairns Regional Council (CRC) to take dangerous animals out of their region if they need to transported out of the community.

“The advice I was provided was that dogs have been seized for a period of 14 days by the Yarrabah dog pound, but they will in fact be held at the Cairns Council pound,” he said.

“This is because there may be a history of pet owners breaking and entering our local pound to try and get their dogs back.

“Because they are such dangerous animals, we have an agreement with CRC to pound them for 14 days.”

Cr Andrews said while the majority of pet owners in Yarrabah were responsible, more needed to step up.

“I am really very seriously concerned many of our pet owners are not taking full responsibility for their animals,” he said.

Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service chief executive Suzanne Andrews said increasing dog attacks are of real concern to the Yarrabah community. File Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Andrews said the recent attacks highlight the need for greater management of dogs in Yarrabah.

“There are a large number of dogs that continue to roam free in community,” she said.

“Our clinics are regularly treating patients who have suffered animal bites.

“Many of our patients express concern about walking in community due to the large number of dogs on the streets and footpaths, some of which are very aggressive.

“In a community where diabetes is an issue, the ability to regularly and safely exercise is essential in the treatment of diabetes.

“The free roaming of dogs has a direct impact, not only upon the social and emotional health but also physical health of our community.”

Originally published as Yarrabah mayor Ross Andrews and Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service chief Suzanne Andrews concerned over increasing dog attacks