NSW dog attack hot spots: Blacktown, Shoalhaven, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast top list

A horrifying number of dog attacks have been reported across NSW, with victims criticising council’s handling of dangerous animals. Warning: Graphic images.

A shocking number of dog attacks were reported across NSW.

A NSW council’s handling of dog attacks has been described as ‘a bit of a joke’ — after it was revealed a massive 767 people were attacked by dogs in the last quarter of 2022.

New data from the Office of Local Government uncovered a total of 1204 dog attacks occurred across NSW from October to December last year, with the Blacktown local government areaidentified as having the highest number of incidents with 108 reports.

Other local government areas included Shoalhaven with 62 incidents, Lake Macquarie and Maitland with 46 recorded incidents.

The Central Coast recorded 43 attacks, while the Northern Beaches had 42. Meanwhile 37 attacks were reported in Sydney City, 32 in Canterbury-Bankstown, 31 in Sutherland and 27 in Tweed.

The latest data comes as a Greenhill woman and her leashed dog were attacked by a pit bull while walking to a local park.

Brittany Baff and her King Charles Cavalier ‘Benny’ were both injured during the incident, leaving scars, a hefty vet bill and a traumatic memory.

“I was screaming out for help, I had nothing on me to use as a weapon against this

dog, the owner had to unlock the dog’s jaw off my dog, it was so traumatic to watch,” Ms Baff said.

Ms Baff took the matter higher after being left with a $600 vet bill and rangers who took no action following the incident.

Ms Baff's 2 year old King Charles Cavalier 'Benny' after the incident

“I still find it very difficult to take my dog out of the house, I used to be a lover of all dogs, now I’m so hesitant,” Ms Baff said.

Director of social dog group ‘Doggie Dates NSW’, Te’re Melrose has had to intervene in over 30 dog attacks, blaming the Central Coast council for not ‘doing enough’.

“I feel very strongly about dogs being on leash because so many of our participants have been traumatised from off leash dog attacks,” Ms Melrose said.

Comparing her experience with Camden council, Ms Melrose says the Central Coast council is ‘very behind’ and inexperienced with dealing with the incidents.

“The Central Coast council is a bit of a joke, it’s laughable,” Ms Melrose said.

“They just don’t want to take any responsibility or follow things through, there are serial offenders and nothing is being done about it,” she said.

Doggie Dates NSW also advocates for on leash walking, asking dog owners to simply leash their dogs and keep the community safe.

Ms Melrose, Director of Doggie Dates NSW pictured with client's dogs

The Central Coast has the highest dog ownership rate, with more than 152,000 dogs recorded across households — however with this comes the fifth highest number of dog attacks.

Despite criticism, the Central Coast Council says they have issued over $150,000 worth of dog related fines this financial year alone.

“Central Coast council undertakes a range of proactive initiatives to ensure responsible pet ownership in addition to services provided by our rangers in responding to and managing complaints about aggressive dogs,” a Central Coast Council spokeswoman said.

The council has also seen the number of dog attacks decrease over last year’s final quarter by 27 per cent.

With the highest reported incidents, Blacktown City Council says low rates of microchipping creates challenges for both enforcement and education.

“Council officers investigate all reported dog attacks and take the appropriate regulatory action against dogs/owners of dogs involved in dog attacks,” a Blacktown council spokeswoman said.

The council believe issues with reporting requirements is the definition of a ‘dog attack’ in the act, arguing a dog “merely running towards or jumping up and scaring a person could be classed as an attack, which can inflate recorded incident numbers”.

A Central Coast resident and her two miniature schnauzer dogs who were attacked by off leash dogs, now carries a ‘weapon’ for her safety.

Mr Colosimo with his beloved 'Luna'

Mr Colosimo's German Shepherd ‘Luna’ in recovery following her attack

“I now walk my dogs with knowledge of what I can do in these situations and carry (on every walk) a ‘weapon’ to use in emergency situations, legal of course.”

Tom Colosimo’s German Shepherd ‘Luna’ was attacked by two pitbulls in an unleashed dog park frenzy. Mr Colosimo will follow up with a small tribunal claim on the basis of strict liability after his local council carried out a ‘useless’ end result.

Meanwhile, Katie Jenkins gentle giant ‘Zeus’ needed 35 stitches after being attacked by a fellow dog at Newcastle dog beach.

Ms Jenkins gentle giant 'Zeus' in recovery after his incident

Zeus needed 35 stitches along his tail after his attack

“The owners took no responsibility and I was out of pocket thousands from vet bills,” Ms Jenkins said.

While Grace Sheather’s dog was attacked at North Lambton dog park multiple times, the most recent attack left him half blind and on anxiety medication due to PTSD.

Mandy Macleod and her dog Tyler were attacked in January by an Alaskan Malamute.

“What it did to us was absolutely horrific,” she said. “(It was) beyond horrific, the terror it gave us is unforgettable”.