Daniel Nicholas, of Narraweena, hit with $13k in fines and costs after his dogs mauled a neighbour’s pet to death
A northern beaches man has been fined thousands of dollars after four of his dogs killed Chilli, a neighbour’s beloved pet spoodle. Daniel Nicholas had pleaded guilty to being the owner of the pack that killed Chilli in his owner’s backyard.
Manly
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A man who owned four dogs that broke through a fence and mauled a family’s two-year-old spoodle to death has been fined $6000 and banned from owning a dog for 12 months.
Daniel Nicholas, 31, a delivery driver of Narraweena, had pleaded guilty to being the owner of the pack that killed Chilli in his owner’s backyard.
Manly Local Court also ordered on Thursday that Nicholas pay $7000 in costs.
The savage attack by the large dogs — two of which were named Monster and Zeus — was witnessed by Chilli’s owner and her three young children on January 25.
Nicholas was prosecuted by Northern Beaches Council under the NSW Companion Animals Act for owning dogs “which rushed, attacked and bit” the spaniel-poodle cross.
Court documents described the breeds of the attacking dogs as three Neapolitan mastiffs and one dingo-Staffordshire-ridgeback cross.
The dogs were seized by council rangers and euthanased.
Nicholas had kept six dogs in his backyard — all “rescue” dogs he had adopted.
Chilli’s owner Beatriz George told council rangers in January that her children, aged five, seven and 10, screamed in terror as the pack savaged Chilli after they broke through a back fence on Northcliffe Ave from Nicholas’ property on Consul Rd North.
Ms George told the Manly Daily that after the attack, the pack stood over the badly injured Chilli.
“The children were screaming and crying,” Mrs George said. “It was terrifying. We ran into the house for safety. There was nothing we could do.”
When the dogs eventually returned through the fence, police officers boarded up the hole. But as they did the dogs tried to get back through and officers had to use capsicum spray.
Chilli was still breathing and rushed to a vet, for emergency treatment, but died from his injuries.
Nicholas’ solicitor, John Hajje, told Manly Local Court on Thursday that his client has expressed remorse for the attack by the dogs that were used as companion animals.
Mr Hajje said Nicholas did not mistreat his dogs.
“He hasn't raised the dogs to be vicious and did everything in his power to make sure the animals never got out,” he said.
“This was a very, very tragic accident.
“There are no winners in this matter.”
Magistrate Michelle Goodwin said it was a “tragic matter for all concerned”.
“Why you would have so many animals in a suburban environment is beyond me,” Ms Goodwin said.
The Magistrate was told that Nicholas now owns another dog, but it was likely he may have to give it away.
After the court decision Ms George, who now owns another spoodle named Charlie, said she was pleased the matter was now over.
“It’s a bit sad,” she said.
“I was hoping he would be banned for life from owning a dog.”
Mayor Michael Regan welcomed the sentence that he said would send a strong message to the community.
“(The attack) caused great distress for the family, some of whom witnessed the attack, and many others in our community reached out to support them,” Cr Regan said.
“I am pleased the court has taken the incident as seriously as we did and handed down this significant penalty.
“It should serve as a warning to other dog owners to make sure they secure their dogs safely and ensure they are under their control at all times.”
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