Sydney woman awarded $225,000 after savage dog attack

The grim details of a savage neighbour dog attack have been laid bare after a woman was awarded $225,000 in compensation.

A woman has been awarded damages of $225,000 after a Rottweiler attacked her and mauled her dog.

A Sydney woman was awarded $225,000 after her neighbour’s dog “savagely” attacked her and mauled her dog.

Zhuo Ling Yin, 64, was walking her dog along Morton St in Parramatta at 6pm on April 27, 2019 when her neighbour’s dog spied them on the footpath.

The 50kg rottweiler pushed against the unlocked screen door and ran out of the house, through the yard and across the road to viciously attack Ms Zhuo and her small dog.

In a NSW District Court on Friday, Judge Leonard Levy SC said the 64-year-old was frightened by the approaching dog and picked up her dog to clutch it to her chest protectively.

A picture of the offending dog, estimated to weigh 50 kgs, was tendered to the court. Picture: Supplied

“Her reaction was understandable given the imposing and potentially menacing appearance of the rottweiler,” he told the court.

The rottweiler was undeterred as it “savagely” bit her left hand multiple times until she dropped her Bichon Frise poodle. When the smaller dog fell to the ground, it was mauled and bitten until it was seriously injured.

Ms Zhuo’s screams during the “unprovoked attack” attracted the attention of the dog’s owner, Sukhwant Singh Sidhu, who rushed to the scene to restrain the rottweiler and provide assistance to the 64-year-old woman.

Mr Sidhu called an ambulance for his neighbour, who was bleeding profusely from several penetrating wounds to the palm of her left hand, her left thumb and her left wrist.

Judge Levy noted paramedics found the wounded woman in “an extremely distressed state” but she delayed her own medical treatment until she was sure her dog was being taken to a veterinary hospital.

Ms Zhuo was walking her dog along Morton St in Parramatta when they were both attacked. Picture: Google Maps

Both Ms Zhuo and her dog spent five days in hospital after the attack.

The court heard the victim was left with “significant permanent disabilities” including restricted hand function which has left her unable to perform tasks like writing, typing, or gripping as she used to do.

The 64-year-old also developed post traumatic stress disorder after the attack, with recurring nightmares and anxious flashbacks. A medical report tendered to the court noted Ms Zhuo felt she was constantly “on guard” and felt like “danger is lurking around every corner”.

Although the court heard she used to derive joy from walking her dog, Ms Zhuo did not walk her dog for six months.

Her dog also suffered “serious and disabling injuries” after the attack, which resulted in lameness after a prolonged walk. Video tendered to the court showed the dog “walking awkwardly” with one lame leg after exercising for half an hour.

Despite the “trauma of the dog attack”, she insisted the rottweiler should not be euthanised.

Judge Levy emphasised that Mr Singh was “plainly and genuinely remorseful” over the injuries caused by his dog, which he had taken reasonable steps to restrain.

The court heard he readily paid the $3717 veterinary bill for the treatment of Ms Zhuo’s dog at the animal hospital.

Ms Zhuo’s Bichon Frise Poodle, similar in appearance to the pictured dogs, had to be partially shaved to attend to its injuries.

However, the judge recognised the 64-year-old was entitled to damages as a result of the “significant physical limitations” and “significant psychological disabilities” incurred by the dog attack.

The damages included $125,000 for non-economic loss, $5000 for past medical expenses, $25,000 for future domestic expenses (due to her injured hand), $25,000 for future treatment expenses of injuries, and $45,000 for her dog’s future injury treatment.

In total, Judge Levy awarded Ms Zhuo $225,000 as well as her legal costs.