NSW dog attack hot spots: Blacktown, Shoalhaven, northern beaches, Central Coast top list

Behavioural experts, heartbroken owners and survivors are convinced someone has to die before more is done to combat a significant uptick in vicious dog attacks across the state. Warning: Graphic images.

Dog attacks have spiked across NSW.

Behavioural experts, heartbroken owners and survivors are convinced someone has to die before more is done to combat a significant uptick in vicious dog attacks across the state.

The latest data from the Office of Local Government uncovered a total of 2531 dog attacks occurred across NSW from January to June 2024, a rise of 165 from the same period in 2023.

Further data from Australia Post also revealed alarming statistics about their workers suffering 1277 “dog-related incidents” across the country in past six months.

Joe Benforte, a worker at Australia Post’s Ingleburn facility in Sydney’s southwest, said he was attacked twice within the span of a week while on the job.

Australia Post confirmed more than 1200 posties fell victim to dog attacks in the past six months.

“There was blood all over the place,” he said.

“Thankfully there was another postman nearby to help me, because this dog just kept having a go.

“I had to get stitched up and had about four puncture wounds in the back of my calf.”

With almost 10 posties “attacked” a day according to Mr Benforte, he’s called out Sydney councils imploring them to make drastic changes.

“It’s worse than ever before and we’ve all noticed it,” he said.

“What do we need to do for council to change something?

“Does ... someone have to die?”

Mr Benforte was left with “gashes” in the back of his calf.

Mr Benforte was left with serious injuries.

This publication can reveal the Blacktown local government area was identified as having the highest number of incidents with 170 reports.

Meanwhile, Shoalhaven had 150 attacks and the northern beaches recorded 135 incidents.

The Central Coast saw 116 attacks in the first six months of the year, while Wollongong almost doubled with 113 incidents compared to 64 in the same time frame for 2023.

Mona Vale resident Tiffany Bonasera said she had noticed the rise in attacks, tellingthis publication she was “terrified” by the recent spate of incidents.

“Our dog Frankie has been attacked three times,” she said.

“One of the times Freddie was left with a huge gash on his side. Another time, I had to start kicking the other dog to get him off because I didn't know what else to do.

“Now, if I see a dog off lead anywhere near mine I start panicking.”

Unfortunately, the mental scars left by these attacks can be just as vicious as the bite itself, with Ms Bonasera being brought to tears when discussing these “traumatising” experiences.

“After one of the attacks I was crying all night,” she said.

Ms Bonasera reported one of the incidents to the Northern Beaches Council, which reported the third highest rate of dog attacks in NSW for the first half of 2024.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said she encouraged anyone who had witnessed a dog attack to report it as soon as possible.

“We take attacks by dogs very seriously,” she said.

“They are traumatic for all involved. Dog owners are always legally responsible for their dog’s actions.”

Dog behaviourist Nathan Williams. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Dog behaviour specialist Nathan Williams, who has trained canines for more than 20 years, said he had reached out to nearly every council in Sydney offering solutions to help halt the increase in dog attacks.

Unfortunately, Mr Williams said most councils “don’t want to hear it”.

“It’s a broken system,” he said.

“Owners get slapped with a $1200 dangerous dog order like it’s nothing, then their dog is locked up a cage for a year in a five-by-five enclosure … how is that helping?

“(Councils are) not wanting to fix it, because from their perspective it’s working.

“But it doesn’t work for the people, proving they don’t care about the them.”