Dog attack at Hamilton Place shopping centre Mt Waverley

A 10-year-old labrador had to have surgery after an off-lead dog latched onto its neck leaving it with horrific injuries at a popular Mt Waverley shopping centre. Its owner no longer feels safe in the area, with the attacking dog still on the loose.

People living in Mt Waverley are being warned after an off-leash dog attacked another dog at Hamilton Place shopping centre. Picture: stock image.

A pet labrador who received teeth punctures to its neck after being attacked by an off-leash dog has sparked a Mt Waverley woman to warn others in the community about it.

Jan, who did not want her surname published, said her 10-year-old labrador had surgery under general anaesthetic for puncture wounds and a shredded ear after the alleged unprovoked attack in Hamilton Place shopping centre in Mt Waverley.

“I do not feel safe walking my two dogs for fear of this unleashed dog attacking again,” she

said.

“We are very concerned for other dogs and even young children in such public places.

“All we want is for the dog to be on a leash at all times and wearing a muzzle.”

Her husband was sitting at a table outside a shop with their labrador lying alongside him when a man and his dog walked past.

Jan’s pet labrador had to have surgery under general anaesthetic for teeth puncture marks in its neck after the attack.

After passing, the dog allegedly doubled back and bit the labrador, locking onto its neck.

The owner then had to wrestle his dog off, breaking its collar in the process.

Jan described the dog as tan with a medium to large build, and is a mixed breed. She said its owner was 30 to 40 years old, “dishevelled in appearance” and carried a leash.

“How can an innocent 10-year-old labrador sitting there on a leash be attacked in the middle of a busy thoroughfare,” she said.

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“It’s quite frightening.

“This happened in Mt Waverley shopping centre, not an off-leash park somewhere.

“I’m in disbelief that this could happen in such a public space.

“The most frustrating bit is council has not been able to get this dog.

“All we want is it to be on a leash and muzzle, not for it to be put down.”

Monash Mayor Shane McCluskey said council officers were continuing to investigate the June 7 incident.

“The owner of the injured dog has provided a statement but so far we’ve been have been unable to identify the owner of the attacking dog, who left the scene without leaving any details,” he said.

“The incident does not appear to have been captured on any CCTV and officers have asked traders and other dog walkers if they saw the incident, without success.”

Cr McCluskey said it was an offence to be the owner of a dog which attacks and bites another animal.

“Dog attacks are routinely investigated by council and where an offender has been identified it is open for council to issue a fine or refer the matter to a court,” he said.

“In some cases, where a matter is the subject of a successful prosecution, it may then be open for council to require that the offending dog is muzzled and kept on leash at all times.”

Anyone who has any information is urged to contact council.