Inside the brutal off-leash dog attack that left a Gold Coast resident’s dog fighting for life

Should dogs ever be allowed off their leash? The debate has resurfaced after a savage dog attack. CAST YOUR VOTE

3 min read

May 9, 2024 - 1:58PM

Gold Coast Bulletin

Mags Bowens Havanese , Ã’BailyÃ“ was attacked and savaged by 2 larger , unleashed dogs in Pimpama. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Gold Coast

Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.

A Gold Coast woman whose dog was fighting for life after a brutal off-leash attack by multiple dogs says her pet had its head savaged and was shaken nearly to death.

Mags Bowen was taking her daily afternoon walk in Gainsborough Parklands in Pimpama on February 28 at the time.

“We always take that route... and right as we were approaching the end of the field I could see another owner and his dogs were right in front of me - off leash,” Ms Bowen said.

“[The dogs] just stopped and just stared at me for just a second and I knew instantly they were going to come in and attack - and they did.”

Dogs off-leash debate: Cast your vote below >>>

Mags Bowens Havanese , Baily was attacked and savaged by two larger unleashed dogs. Picture: Glenn Campbell

■ What you said about the dog off-leash debate

Ms Bowen’s dog Bailey, only 6kg, faced four Staffordshire Bull Terriers.

“The [dog] on the left started to growl and just look really aggressive at him and then that set the other one off and I knew they were going to attack.

“I raised [his leash] and I’m only five foot two so I wasn’t really going to raise him very high. I was spinning around trying to get away from these dogs while I’m choking my poor dog with his leash.

“[The dogs] jumped, grabbed him and dragged him to the floor and started attacking him.” she said.

She was screaming to her partner to save Bailey.

“I saw one of the dogs bite down into his head then grab his ear and shook the heck out of my dog.

“I just thought this is it, he’s gone, I thought my dog was dead. I just walked away. I can’t let this be my last vision of my dog,” she said.

Bailey was left lying on the ground in his own blood.

“I picked [my dog] up, he was covered in blood and crying and I just said to the guy ‘What were you thinking letting your dogs off-leash, your dogs have nearly killed him’ and he didn’t say anything.

“I said ‘Have you got anything to say?’ and he was just casually putting his dogs on a leash. and I said ‘I’m talking to you have you got anything to say?’ and he said ‘What the f--- do you want me to say... ‘I don’t give a f about your dog’.” she claimed.

Mags Bowen's dog Bailey was left fighting for his life after a vicious off-leash dog attack in northern Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

Queensland Law states when walking dogs in a public place they must be on a leash, unless in a signed off-leash area. Gainsborough Parklands are not. The penalty for not keeping your dog under effective control is $619.

After refusing to provide contact information Ms Bowen took social media to identify him and report the incident.

Ms Bowen also found this may not have been the owner’s first offence.

“Another lady reached out to me privately and said that she didn’t get pictures of the guy but he’s done the same thing to her on the same field a couple of weeks back... luckily, she had a chance to pick her dog up,” Ms Bowen said.

Bailey, left with deep bite marks and missing chunks, had surgery.

SEQ dog attack hotspots
Infogram

“He’s got this pocket now inside of him because [the dogs] ripped his inner anus, they ripped it from the muscle wall... other parts have been ripped off too and [the vet] said that’s proof that he was shaken,” Ms Bowen said.

“The vet said if he’d been attacked much more he wouldn’t have survived.”

Despite Gold Coast City Council data showing off-leash dog attacks decreased 20 per cent from 2019 to 2023, the severity of attacks have not.

The council is investigating.

“An incident involving a number of dogs was reported to Council on Sunday. We are investigating and appropriate regulatory action will be considered when the investigation is finalised,” a Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said.

The state fine can be $46,440 and it can be declared a dangerous dog.

“The City investigates all reported dog attacks and takes appropriate regulatory action which may include prosecution and regulated dog control orders.” they said.