Ryan Peacey: Point Cook owner fined after dog kills neighbour’s pup

A woman’s pet dog died in her arms after it was mauled to death by the next door neighbour’s German Shepherd in Melbourne’s west.

A young Point Cook woman has been fined $10,000 after her German Shepard mauled a neighbour’s dog which later died in her arms.

Ryan Peacey, 21, pleaded guilty to five charges relating to the attack which left her neighbour “traumatised” in Werribee Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Magistrate Kimberley Swadesir said the victim might never feel safe again in her own backyard.

“This is a pain she’ll have to carry for the rest of her time,” she said.

The court heard Peacey and her partner had moved to Point Cook shortly before the attack.

The pair took precautions to stop their two dogs, a German Shepherd named Oakley and a Border Collie named Pepper, from escaping.

Her lawyer, Brett Melke, said the pair had chosen the property based on the six foot high fence and had barricaded parts with bricks.

“Unfortunately it’s clear they didn’t come across all the areas where they could escape,” he said.

“Dogs have all day to find a way out.”

Wyndham City declares dog’s dangerous if it has attacked and bitten a person or animal and caused serious injury. Picture: Keri Megelus

On May 21 the two dogs escaped, with their neighbour finding Oakley biting the neck of Lily.

Representing the City of Wyndham, lawyer Georgie Ward said she initially thought they were playing until she saw blood.

“She ran into the yard screaming in an attempt to break it up,” she said.

The Point Cook woman chased the dogs away and rushed her dog to a local vet, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Peacey was charged with owning an animal which caused serious injury, failing to register the two dogs with Wyndham City and failing to confine both dogs.

The court heard the dogs had been seized after the incident with the Border Collie returned to Peacy and her partner on August 18 after an animal management plan was signed.

Ms Ward said the German Shepard will be returned soon under an agreement that Oakly must be muzzled and leashed when in public. The German Shepherd and stored in an enclosure in the back yard when unsupervised.

Mr Melke said Peacy tried to apologise and bring flowers to her neighbour, who “understandably” didn‘t want to see her.

Ms Swadesir fined the woman $2000 and ordered her to pay $8730.49 in fees while the dogs were impounded over three months.

“It’s entirely understandable your neighbour didn’t accept your flowers,” she said.

“Flowers wouldn’t replace her dog.

“But I am satisfied you’ve done all you can to prevent animals in your care from offending in this way again.”