Northern beaches: Man left with ‘chunks’ missing from arm after alleged dog attack
A walker has had chunks taken out of his arm in an alleged dog attack at Palm Beach. Council officials are now investigating.
Manly
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An investigation has been launched into an alleged dog attack on the northern beaches where a man had “chunks” taken out of his arm.
The alleged incident happened last Wednesday at about 8.30am, just north of the Barrenjoey Boat Hire Shop, at Palm Beach.
Ben Cooper, 17, who works at the boat shop, said a man he thought was in his 50s came in with a bleeding arm, seeking help.
He told the Manly Daily the man’s forearm was “pretty bad” and it looked like “chunks” had been taken out.
“I sprayed Betadine on it and wrapped his arm. Then he went to the hospital,” he said.
Mr Cooper, of Avalon, said the man was a bit shaken up and had told him he had been on a walk when a dog bit him.
He said the man later phoned the boat shop to say he’d attended hospital and to thank staff for their help.
Mr Cooper was unable to provide details of the dog or whether it was on or off a leash.
The area north of Barrenjoey Boat Shop includes Station Beach, which the council has approved an off-leash dog trial, which is yet to start.
Mitch Geddes, from the group Pittwater Unleashed, which has been fighting to allow more off leash dog areas said this alleged incident was an example of a “bad owner with a bad breed”.
He said he understood the incident to have happened at Governor Phillip Park.
He said in the park the dog should be on a leash.
“I don’t know if the dog was on a leash, but the guy who owned it didn’t have control over it,” Mr Geddes said.
He said that type of incident could have happened anywhere on the peninsula and should not be linked with the off-leash trial at Station Beach.
He also added that the number of dogs on the northern beaches has increased by 15 per cent in the last three years, with numbers now at around 60,000.
He said Northern Beaches Council needed to expand areas where dogs can exercise to keep up with demand.
Today Northern Beaches Council appealed for any information about the alleged attack to contact the Animal Management Officer on 0418 166 596.