Palm Island’s dog debacle: Horrific attack sparks council action

A growing chorus of complaints about unruly dogs and horses on Palm Island has set council on high alert, triggered by a shocking dog attack that left a wheelchair-bound woman scarred for life.

Palm Island's council building. Picture: Natasha Emeck

A growing chorus of complaints about unruly dogs and horses on Palm Island has set council on high alert, triggered by a shocking dog attack that left a wheelchair-bound woman scarred for life.

The distressing incident unfolded on Sailor St just last week, as a 52-year-old island resident found herself ensnared in a nightmare.

The wheelchair-bound woman fell victim to the ferocious onslaught of two ruthless canines, leaving her ear gruesomely torn and her body marked with bite wounds across her neck, face, and arms.

The dogs yanked her from her wheelchair during the ordeal and she had to be flown to Townsville University Hospital for immediate surgery.

The dogs responsible were swiftly located and destroyed by council the same day.

Palm Island animal control officers Fred Bulsey and Raoul Miller. Picture: Palm Island Voice

To address this growing menace, the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council has taken the lead with an extensive community engagement initiative.

“A focus of the community’s concern is dogs roaming freely, dogs appearing malnourished and sickly, constant dog-on-dog fights in the Mall and Mission Area, and the threat that stray or wild dogs present to the public,” CEO Michael Bissell said.

He said they were now educating residents about the local animal management laws, identifying animal control staff and surveying how many animals people had at home.

“Council wanted to know if people were complying with the two-dogs law and if they were registering and properly looking after their dogs and horses,” he said.

“A focus was on how people were controlling potentially dangerous dogs.

“The findings from our community engagement and survey shows many households have more than two dogs, and most dogs are not registered, microchipped or desexed as required by law.

“In response, council will be taking a more active approach to animal management on the Island with an initial focus on dog numbers, dog registrations, microchipping and desexing, and removing dogs from the Mall and Mission Area.”

Council was looking forward to working with the community to ensure there was effective animal management on Palm Island.

Originally published as Palm Island’s dog debacle: Horrific attack sparks council action