Merry Muy: Springvale South dog bit boy in Keysborough playground
A kid was enjoying some fun at a children’s playground when he was bitten by a dog. Now the hound’s owner has to pay the price.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
A dog owner whose hound bit a five-year-old in the chest at a kid’s playground has fronted court.
Merry Muy was walking her german shepherd named Shadow on a lead at Tatterson Park in Keysborough at 7.15pm on January 19 this year.
They wandered onto the kid’s playground area and the dog suddenly attacked a child, biting a young boy in the thorax.
An ambulance had to be called and he was taken to Dandenong Hospital to treat a laceration to his chest area.
He required immediate plastic surgery and still needs ongoing care.
When Greater Dandenong Council rangers interviewed Muy she admitted being the owner and at the park at that time, saying “the child came close and the dog bit him”.
She pleaded guilty to a dog attack causing injury charge at the online Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
The Springvale South optometry worker represented herself, saying she was very sorry for what had happened.
“I’m extremely guilty about it,” she said.
“He has never shown any aggression before.
“He’s always been around kids, I’ve never seen this before, it won’t happen again.”
The council prosecutor told the court there were no medical treatment costs for the boy as he was being treated under Medicare.
She said it would now be up to the council to decide what happens to the dog in the future.
Magistrate Brian Clifford said he took into account Muy’s plea of guilty, the fact she has no priors and her remorse when handed down his penalty.
“This is the first time this has occurred, and you did have the dog on the lead,” Mr Clifford said.
“But you have to accept responsibility for what your dog does, particularly in a children’s playground.
“We can’t have children being traumatised in this way.”
Muy was convicted and fined $1000.
