Dog attacks: Mayor calls for tougher action after Lakemba couple fined

A Lakemba couple have been fined $2000 after one of their dogs bit a woman and two men with Canterbury Bankstown’s mayor saying their pet could have killed someone.

The wounds on one of the victims during the dog attack at Lakemba in January.

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A Lakemba couple has been convicted and fined $2000 after one of their dogs attacked three people in two separate incidents.

But Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour said the court should have banned them from owning dogs.

Canterbury Bankstown Council said the two owners were fined for not following the strict controls around owning a declared dangerous dog, which had been involved in two serious attacks on people.

Police investigated the attacks with the council handling the breaching of regulations regarding dangerous dogs.

“The dog in question had a history of attacks and on each occasion, the owners did not take the necessary precautions to avoid them from occurring,” Councillor Asfour said.

“The court had the ability to jail the owners, and I believe that should have occurred because their pet could have killed someone.

“At the very least, they should have been banned from ever owning a dog again but the court only handed them a fine.”

Mayor Khal Asfour: The court had the ability to jail the owners. Picture: Lawrence Machado

The first attack occurred in September 2018, when one of the pair’s two Staffordshire Bull Terriers attacked a woman at Bankstown City Gardens, “inflicting multiple puncture wounds and lacerations to her legs, arms and chest”.

“The same dog, which had been declared a dangerous dog under the Companion Animals Act 1998, then attacked a 55-year-old man at Lakemba in January this year,” a council spokeswoman said.

“A 33-year-old man, who came to the victim’s assistance, was also attacked.

“Both men suffered serious injuries, requiring stitches to puncture wounds and lacerations.

“City of Canterbury Bankstown was forced to euthanise the offending dog and declared the couple’s other staffy, which was present and unrestrained during both of the attacks, a dangerous dog.”

Last month the council took action against the owners when an inspection found the dog was not being contained in an approved enclosure with appropriate warning signage.

Cr Asfour said owning a pet carried important responsibilities with it and locals should feel safe when walking down the street.

The council urged residents who are the victims of a dog attack or witness a dog attack to call the police immediately.

They can contact the council if they believe a dog is a danger or a menace.

Details: 9707 9000, or cb.city/responsibledogownership

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