Elderly man saved by off-duty cop after dog attack in Melbourne’s west

An off duty cop rescued an elderly man who was being viciously attacked by a dog in Melbourne’s western suburbs, a court has heard.

A Hobson’s Bay mother-of-four has been sentenced after her dog attacked an elderly man outside a kindergarten, leaving him with horrific injuries.

Amanda Kutleshi appeared in Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Thursday pleading guilty to dog attack causing serious injuries.

The court heard Kutleshi wasn’t at home when her young Finnish Lapphund escaped the backyard, bearing down on the elderly man walking along Blythe Street in Altona around 11.30am on June 11.

City of Hobsons Bay prosecutor Alison May said the dog, named Princess, was “barking aggressively” and bit the victim on his forearm and legs, pulling him to the ground.

“An off-duty police officer was walking nearby and ran towards the incident yelling,” she said.

“This confused the dog which backed off.”

The man was rushed to hospital with an 8cm laceration to his right arm, and 1cm lacerations to both his right and left legs.

He spent two days in hospital and had skin graft plastic surgery to repair the damage to his right arm.

The dog was seized by council officers two days later, which Ms May said was a “necessary precaution” as the dog lived near a kindergarten.

Kutleshi’s lawyer, Brett Melke, said she was “so very sorry” the incident occurred and the one and three quarter year-old dog had never shown any aggression before.

He said the family had taken steps to prevent this happening again, including adding automatic closing devices to the gates.

“When the issue happened she took appropriate action,” he said.

“She would expect it would never have the opportunity to do this again.”

He described the 36-year-old as a “very community minded individual”, who gave a lot of time volunteering with local organisations.

“They’ve made offers to help the elderly man with anything they can do to assist,” Mr Melke said. “It’s understandable that he hasn't taken them up on it.”

Kutleshi was placed on an adjourned undertaking for two years with conviction and ordered to reimburse the council $5268.90 in legal costs and pound fees.

“This should be a lesson that the responsibility of an animal extends beyond the time you are present,” magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said.

The owner’s responsibility is ongoing. The outcome of what has occurred on a person simply going about their business, it never should have happened.”