Boy left in serious condition after dog attack

An unregistered dog, believed to be part Doberman, mauled an 11-year-old boy at a Cairnlea home, leaving him with serious facial injuries.The dog barked ferociously as it was removed, with the owner crying as it was taken away.

An unregistered dog who attacked an 11-year-old boy in Melbourne’s northwest has been euthanised.

It’s believed the dog, an adolescent mixed breed that’s part Doberman, mauled Year 6 student in his Cairnlea backyard yesterday afternoon around 3.20pm.

The boy arrived home with his father around 11.30am. The pair arrived in a taxi and did not want to speak to reporters.

`Next door neighbour Phillipa Giarrusso said the dog frequently tried to jump her fence.

“We hear the dog, as soon as he goes outside, it barks,” she told the Herald Sun.

“You couldn’t make a move without it barking.

The dog in the van. Picture: Sarah Matray

“I am scared it would jump the fence.

“Why buy a dog like this?”

Mrs Giarrusso said when she looks after her 2-year-old grandson she is scared of being in the backyard because of the dog.

“Of course I am scared,” she said.

“I quickly take him (my grandson) inside because it will jump the fence.”

Mrs Giarrusso said her next door neighbours were a “nice” family.

“They’re a very nice family, we just say hello,” she said.

“He is a nice boy.

“He is always looking for kids to play in the street.”

Local rangers removed the dog around 6.30pm yesterday after it had been temporarily secured in the back yard.

A child has been taken to hospital after an animal bite at a home in Cairnlea. Picture: Sarah Matray

The black dog barked ferociously as it was led out on a leash by a man, presumed to be the owner, who was flanked by police officers and council rangers.

The owner could be heard coaxing the dog into the council vehicle, calling him a “good boy” and referring to him as “Esther”.

He was in tears after loading the dog into the council van, and was comforted by a police officer.

Next door neighbour Vera said the family were “gorgeous.”

“It’s pretty devastating for the family, the boy and the dog,” she said.

“I just hope he gets better.

“It (the dog) barks when we go outside but that’s OK, it’s a dog.”

Animal management officers will take the dog to be destroyed and police are investigating the incident.

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A neighbour told the Sunday Herald Sun the family had two children and the dog was often aggressive.

“If I saw that dog half a metre away from me, I’d be scared,” she said.

Brimbank City council’s Director of City Development Kelvin Walsh said the dog had been put down.

“The owner surrendered the animal to Council last night and authorised its euthanasia,” he said.

“(It) was then carried out.”

Mr Walsh confirmed that the dog was not registered in the council area.

“Council animal management officers were called to assist police. The dog is not registered.”

It comes after an American staffordshire terrier on Wednesday night fatally mauled Mill Park man Leo Biancofiore.

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