Caulfield North dog attack: Jason Cassidy convicted after his dangerous dogs maul spaniel
A man whose two dogs mauled a defenceless spaniel in Caulfield North has failed to face court on charges relating to the incident. And he is believed to be hiding the hounds — already declared dangerous after a previous attack — far away from authorities.
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Two dangerous dogs that almost mauled another dog to death in Caulfield North are believed to be on the run in Queensland.
St Kilda man Jason Cassidy is understood to have whisked his bull arab crosses, Bruiser and Mac, up north not long after the sickening daylight attack last year.
Cassidy didn’t bother to front Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court to face several charges — including being the owner of a dog which caused serious injury and failure to have a declared dangerous dog muzzled and on a leash — on July 2.
He was convicted and fined ex parte in what is believed to be the state’s first successful prosecution of a mauling by dogs already declared dangerous after a previous attack.
Cassidy’s hounds from hell got loose and attacked eight-year-old spaniel, Obie, while his owner’s mother Linda Chiang was walking him along Kooyong Rd on April 3, 2018.
A witness told magistrate Charlie Tan she heard Ms Chiang screaming “my dog, my dog” as the mauling unfolded.
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“I turned the corner (onto Kooyong Rd) and saw two large dogs and a man in the middle trying to rescue another dog,” the witness said.
“The man picked up the small dog and held it over his head but the two large dogs were jumping up trying to get it.”
The witness said neither of Cassidy’s dogs were muzzled, nor were they wearing special dog collars required to be worn by dangerous dogs.
Owner Emily Low said Obie was “fighting for life” in the days after the attack but doing well now.
“It was traumatic because we didn’t know if he was going to survive,” Ms Low said.
“He’s my best mate, I’ve had him since he was a puppy so if he died it would have been devastating.”
Ms Low reported Cassidy to Glen Eira Council after he gave her false contact details.
It took several months for the council to determine Cassidy’s real identity.
Ms Low said the court outcome was “fair” but she didn’t blame Cassidy’s dogs.
“It’s not the dogs’ fault. I wish the owner could be more responsible,” she said.
The dogs were living in Camberwell with Cassidy and partner Shannon Bromley at the time of the attack but had not been registered with Boroondara Council.
Glen Eira compliance officer Luke Fraser told the court the dogs were last registered with Whitehorse Council in 2016.
But in 2015, Whitehorse Council declared Cassidy’s dogs dangerous after they attacked a person and another dog while living in Blackburn North.
Prior to that, Mr Fraser said the dogs had been impounded at the RSPCA where they had acted “aggressively”.
Mr Fraser told the court the dogs were now most likely in Queensland, where Cassidy had family.
Glen Eira prosecutor Matt Aitken said he believed the proceeding was the first of its kind in the state.
“With dangerous dogs you either see the owner comply or the dogs just disappear never to be heard of again,” Mr Aitken said.
Cassidy was fined $5000 and ordered to pay $5439 compensation to cover vet bills.
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