Rural area residents call for dangerous dogs to be more regulated, as community anger grows over recent dog attacks

UP to 20 people whose pets or loved ones have been mauled by dangerous dogs have joined forces to press for change

• Beloved family pet mauled to death in horrific attack in Darwin rural area

UP to 20 people whose pets or loved ones have been mauled or killed by dangerous dogs have joined forces to press for change to the way dog attacks are handled in the Darwin rural area.

The Litchfield Council area residents are calling for stronger council by-laws and possible police action to protect people and animals from dangerous dogs.

The push is being led by Howard Springs resident Yvette Goldberg, whose beloved dachshund Pancake was mauled to death by three pig-hunting dogs on Wednesday.

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Ms Goldberg said she had contacted lawyers about possibly bringing a class action against Litchfield Council and pursuing civil action against the owner of the dogs that killed Pancake.

She said she also planned to contact the Police Commissioner, Ombudsman, rural area politicians and several ministers.

Ms Goldberg said dog attacks in the Darwin rural area were too common and the laws in place to protect those affected were insufficient.

Yvette Goldberg’s five-year-old dachshund Pancake was killed in a savage dog attack in Howard Springs. Picture: Yvette Goldberg

“I have got information about at least 20 incidences … of people’s dogs being mauled, their dogs being killed, their husbands being attacked, their husbands being mauled, their two Labradors being savaged. There are so many people up in arms,” she said.

According to Litchfield Council, there have been 13 dog attacks in the local government area so far this year.

Chief executive Daniel Fletcher said under council by-laws a dog could be declared dangerous if it attacked or menaced a person or animal or was a threat to community safety.

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He said if a dog was declared dangerous, it must be adequately contained, controlled with a lead and muzzle whenever it was taken off the property, and the owner must erect warning signage.

“Council continues to investigate and enforce the by-laws when dog attacks are reported to council,” he said.

A NT Police spokeswoman said police could only act in dog attacks when the owner actively encouraged their dog to attack.