Councillor goes quiet after Mayor’s dog involved in schnauzer attack

A Gold Coast councillor pushing for tougher laws to rein in dangerous dogs has been unavailable for comment on the schnauzer who was attacked by Mayor Tom Tate’s American bulldog.

THERE has been radio silence from a Gold Coast councillor pushing for tougher laws to rein in dangerous dogs after a schnauzer was attacked by Mayor Tom Tate’s American bulldog.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster was vocal in his condemnation of dogs involved in attacks on pets and people in recent weeks.

However, Cr Vorster has not returned calls for comment on his proposed crackdown and has been unable to comment on the Mayor’s pooch Jaidee who fled through an unlocked gate and targeted the smaller dog on Tuesday afternoon.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster. Photo by Richard Gosling

A woman who was walking the schnauzer suffered a flesh wound to one of her hands trying to separate the canines.

A staff member at Cr Vorster’s office told the Bulletin he was stuck in back-to-back meetings over two days and did not have any time for an interview, however brief.

Meanwhile, further questions put to Gold Coast City Council and the Mayor also went unanswered.

Cr Tate and the council were asked where the bulldog Jaidee was now located, what his future held and whether the Mayor would have to erect a ‘dangerous dog’ sign at his Sorrento home.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate with his American bulldog Jaidee. Picture: Glenn Hunt/The Australian

They were also asked whether the dog needed to be retrained, how the injured woman was faring and what action would be taken by the council.

Cr Tate, who previously described himself as “deeply upset” over the incident, responded with a short statement which did not address queries.

“The investigation by City officers is ongoing and as such I have no further comment at this time,” he wrote.

Tom Tate and his dog after the incident at Sorrento on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

He did provide the media with initial information after the attack occurred.

Cr Vorster previously said he would table a proposed review of the council’s animal management laws at a council meeting.

He said current laws were “not acting as a strong enough deterrent” and there was “no choice but to communicate through the hip pocket”.

Cr Vorster said tougher penalties would be aimed at controlling dogs who were repeat offenders and shown to be violent.

The council gets about 800 reports about aggressive dogs each year and declared 74 dogs dangerous last financial year.

Cr Vorster, elected in 2016 as the Gold Coast’s youngest councillor ever, was formerly Cr Tate’s media adviser.