Dog attacks woman’s dog for second time on Gold Coast

A WOMAN’S pet dog is lucky to be alive after it was savagely mauled by a neighbour’s dog over the weekend. But it’s not the first time the dogs on this property have attacked, with residents calling for the offending dogs to be euthanised. WARNING: VERY GRAPHIC IMAGES

Kyla needed to have her leg amputated. Photo: The Point Vet

A WOMAN has been left devastated after her pet dog was mauled by another dog just metres from their home — for the second time.

In 2015, Lynette Johnston was forced to euthanise her 12-year-old soft coated wheaten terrier Kyla after a dog from a nearby Oxley Drive property savagely attacked her on a public walkway.

Last Saturday, history repeated itself as another dog, allegedly from the same property, grabbed her 13-month-old dog — also called Kyla and of the same breed — by the leg and “bit (it) off.”

Luckily, this Kyla survived.

Paradise Point woman Lynette Johnston was walking her dog back from Jabiru Park when a dog attacked her 13 month old soft coated wheaten terrier and ripped its leg off. Photo by Richard Gosling

Ms Johnston said she was walking home from Lions Park at Jabiru Island around 7.15am when she spotted the bull terrier-type dog on the beach close by.

“As soon as it saw us it just shot up and just jumped straight on top (of Kyla), bit her leg off, it was just hanging by a muscle,” she said.
“The noise was horrendous. (She’s) had her leg chopped off at the shoulder, her front leg, it’s dreadful.”

Kyla was taken straight to the Paradise Point Vet where her leg had to be amputated.

Kyla’s limb was hanging on by just muscle after the bones were broken in her right front leg. Photo: The Point Vet

The retired Paradise Point local said she always looked whether or not the gate was open at the property when she was walking her dog.

“If you can’t walk along out on the footpath in the public, something is terribly wrong,” she said.

“We shouldn’t be held to ransom by these dogs ... everybody is terrified.

“The gate was shut when we walked past earlier, but it was open an hour later. The (property owners) just don’t care.”

Kyla’s injured leg which was later amputated. Photo: The Point Vet

The attack has left Ms Johnston $2500 out of pocket, she said she was determined to take it to the civil tribunal “as a matter of principle.”

Tonight, more than 50 Paradise Point locals including Cr Cameron Caldwell came together for a community meeting where the attack was discussed.

One resident described the dog who allegedly attacked Kyla as a “large, hunting dog” while another man said the dog had once tried to attack him near the canal behind Oxley Dr.

Ms Johnston has now launched a petition to have council euthanize the dog who allegedly attacked Kyla.

She said Kyla was recovering well, but still working out how to get around on three legs.

The incident will be discussed at tonight’s Paradise Point and Northern Districts Progress Association meeting at the Paradise Point Community Hall.

A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said they were aware of the latest dog attack and were investigating.

Kyla must now learn how to get around on three legs. Photo by Richard Gosling

The spokeswoman confirmed there had been previous complaints.

The property was last inspected on January 30, to check a declared dangerous dog at the address was being held in accordance with local legislation.

“The owners of a declared dangerous dog are required to meet the conditions set out in the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008,” the spokeswoman said.

“This includes: provision of a childproof, six-foot enclosure with self-closing and self-latching gates and the dog must be desexed, microchipped and muzzled in public.”

The dog allegedly involved is not a declared dangerous dog.

A photo of the walkway close to where the second incident happened. Photo by Richard Gosling

Other residents in the area told the Bulletin the roaming dogs have attacked other animals and people.

One resident, who declined to be named for fear of repercussion, said his brother-in-law’s chickens had previously been killed, while another anonymous resident said another man’s dog had also been attacked.

Paradise Point woman Lynette Johnston with Kyla. Photo by Richard Gosling

Another female resident said she had been approached by the free-roaming, growling dogs before.

“There’s grave concerns ... the dogs are a real worry to neighbours,” she said, adding she didn’t walk her dog past the property just in case.

“People are too frightened to take their dogs to the park.”

Kyla’s leg. Photo: The Point Vet

Gordon Jones, who lives on Oxley Drive, said while he had not personally had a problem with the dogs, he had seen them roaming once along the canal.

There is only one pathway, which goes along the front of the offending address, to get to Jabiru Island.

When the Bulletin visited earlier today, there was one sign declaring a dangerous dog on the property.

Photo of a declared dangerous dog sign. Photo by Richard Gosling

People at home at the address today denied involvement in the latest attack.