Coogee Oval dog attack on boy, 4, leads to appeal

Dog attack victims from across the eastern suburbs are coming forward to demand action following a spate of vicious unprovoked attacks.

UPDATE

Another eastern suburbs dog attack victim has come forward calling for harsher penalties for irresponsible owners.

Michelle Frith was walking her dog Bella along the beach at Rose Bay in November along with a friend who was nine months pregnant at the time.

A dog came running out of the water and grabbed Bella, tearing chunks out of her neck and hind quarters and severely injuring Ms Frith’s hand as she desperately attempted to save her beloved pet.

Ms Frith’s friend gave birth via emergency C-section in the hours after the horrific attack which she believes contributed to her traumatic delivery.

Michelle Frith's dog Bella was attacked on the beach at Rose Bay

“The dog just wouldn’t let her go, lifted her up in the air and the rest is a blur really,” Ms Frith said.

“I ran Bella to the Rose Bay vet (which was) across the road luckily. She was in bad shape and had to be there for three nights and had surgery to remove a lot of dead tissue.

“My fingers on my left hand were shredded. I had to go to the emergency room to be on an antibiotic drip and have X-rays, then come back the next morning to the hospital to have my fingers surgically cleaned and had to stay there overnight.

“It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever been through.”

Woollahra council tracked down the dog owners and issued a fine.

Ms Frith believes there should also be criminal consequences for dog owners.

Poor Bella was lucky to have survived.

She was devastated to learn of the attacks over the past week on a golden retriever at Marks Park in Tamarama and a little boy at Coogee Oval and shared her story in the hopes it would spur authorities to take action.

“And now it’s happened again and will keep happening until someone’s dog is killed or worse,” Ms Frith said.

EARLIER

A council and concerned parent are trying to track down the owner of a vicious dog which latched onto a young boy’s face, leaving him bloodied and suffering facial injuries during a rugby league match in Coogee.

Parent Ben Hodgins was down at Coogee Oval on Sunday about 3pm with his son, Joey, to watch an A-grade rugby league match at the ground.

Joey suffered facial injuries and was bleeding heavily. Picture: Supplied

Mr Hodgins said they were playing with a ball near the temporary grandstand when a dog suddenly pounced on his four-year-old son.

“Joey’s ball went within 5m of the dog and something in the dog has switched and he has latched onto Joey’s face,” Mr Hodgins said.

Mr Hodgins said he suspected the dog was either a pit bull or an American staffy and was a caramel light-colour.

He said the owner of the dog – a man in his 40s or 50s – instantly pulled the dog off his son which fortunately prevented it from taking another bite.

“Witnesses said it was over as soon as it began.”

The attack happened inside the fenced off area of Coogee Oval.

Despite the abrupt ordeal, the young boy suffered bite marks on his nose and mouth, swelling to his lip, and was left bloodied and bruised. “The blood was pouring out of him.”

Mr Hodgins quickly attended to his son and said the owner of the dog apologised before swiftly leaving.

Mr Hodgins remarked “he just left straight away” and he wanted the owner to come forward and contact council rangers as it could prevent another child from being mauled in the future.

Joey was taken to hospital as a precaution following the attack but he has been recovering well this week.

“He is a trooper, he rolls with the punches.”

Dogs are strictly prohibited from entering Coogee Oval and there are signs at either end of the park stating dogs are not allowed.

Dogs are not allowed on Coogee Oval.

Mr Hodgins added the dog was wearing a leash at the time of the attack but the dog’s owner was not holding the leash and they appeared to be playing fetch.

Randwick Council has appealed for anyone who witnessed the attack or has information to come forward.

As at Wednesday morning, the owner and dog were yet to be located or identified.

“Council rangers have spoken with the parents of the young boy who was attacked and are continuing investigations to identify the individual and animal responsible,” a council spokeswoman said.

“Dogs are not permitted on or within 10m of sports fields in Randwick Council, regardless of whether they are off leash or on.

Council are looking for the dog. Generic picture.

“If anyone has any information about the attack they are encouraged to contact council rangers on 1300 722 542.”

Council would not say whether they were reviewing CCTV footage.

The incident happened inside the fenced-off area of Coogee Oval near the temporary grandstand.

It is understood the dog and owner may have entered the area through an opening in the fence opposite Pro Dive Sydney.

According to the latest data, there were 23 reported dog attacks on humans across the Randwick Council area during 2020, with five of those attacks categorised as “serious attacks”.

In a separate incident, a golden retriever was almost mauled to death last month at Marks Park in Tamarama. Waverley Council is still looking for the dog involved in that attack.