Bellevue Hill dog attacks: Residents slam council delays following multiple attacks by large black dog

Bellevue Hill residents are furious that more was not done to prevent multiple dog attacks over a period of months by what they allege was the same large black dog familiar to people in the neighbourhood.

Residents are outraged after ‘unacceptable’ delays by a Sydney council left dogs in a quiet Bellevue Hill neighbourhood vulnerable to attacks by a large black dog which they believe is a repeat offender.

A professional dog walker – who used the nickname Dee – first raised the alarm in September when she shared horrific images of a Groodle with puncture marks across its body that had been attacked by a “Malinois looking” dog near Victoria Rd, Bellevue Hill.

“It was a completely unprovoked attack and the wounds are horrific,” Dee posted to a community social media group.

She added the owner of the attacking dog “ran off” leaving a teenage girl who was with the dog “traumatised” as the dog bled out.

Now, several other residents have alleged the same large dog attacked another small dog in the area in March, and terrorised others.

Kambala Rd, Bellevue Hill, the alleged site of several attacks. Photo: supplied

One resident who lives nearby Victoria Rd and asked to remain anonymous told the Wentworth Courier her Cavoodle was attacked by the black dog in March.

She said she tried to put herself between them, however “the dog ended up picking up my dog and shaking and tossing it away”.

“It was really traumatic,” the woman said. “I went into shock, and had to lie down because I was almost going to throw up while my poor dog was sitting there shaking.”

Damage from the March attack in Bellevue Hill. Photo: supplied

She said she coughed up $4000 in vet costs to treat the damage from the attack.

“I’ve had a lot of people in the neighbourhood [say they are] terrified of this dog; that it’s going to kill another dog or possibly even a toddler because the owner can’t control it,” the woman said, adding that she didn’t want the dog to be put down.

“If it was muzzled, then this wouldn’t have happened. It wouldn’t have happened [for] allegedly all the other attacks from the same dog.”

Kambala Rd, Bellevue Hill. Photo: NSW Real Estate.

The woman said she reported the attack to council but because her dog was not on a lead at the time she was told council was not able to declare the attacking animal a ‘dangerous dog.’

Tim Stern, a neighbour who saw the attack take place, told the Wentworth Courier his own dog was attacked on the street this year, but did not see the dog behind the attack.

However he said its widely known that the same large black dog is the focus of many residents‘ concerns.

Damage from a September attack of a Groodle in Bellevue Hill. Photo: supplied

Generic image of black Malinois, the same breed residents allege is known in the area.

“I know a lot of people who will pass that house on the corner, which is quite a large block, they actually cross the road with their dog so that they’re not next to that fence because that big black dog just goes AWOL,” Mr Stern said.

“I don’t think anyone wants that dog to be put down. But to this day, I don’t understand how the council hasn’t made it a requirement [for the dog be muzzled].”

A Woollahra Council spokesman said the council is currently investigating a dog attack that occurred in Bellevue Hill on September 19 and that the owner of the dog had been issued with a Notice of Intention to declare the dog dangerous.

“While the investigation process is undertaken, when in public the dog must be muzzled, secured on a leash and walked by a competent person over the age of 18. The owner has confirmed that these obligations are understood,” the spokesman told the Wentworth Courier.

Council said all dog attacks reports are investigated by regulatory staff and penalty notices of up $1760 apply for noncompliance with council orders.

The dog owner has a right of appeal and can also elect to have a court determine the outcome, the spokesman said.

Mr Stern said the outrage stems from the sense the delays put dogs and dog owners in the area in danger.

“Now we’ve got the ramifications of that. And it’s just not acceptable.”