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This was published 3 months ago
Dandenong dog mauling victim was attacked just days earlier, says neighbour
By Marta Pascual Juanola and Gemma Grant
A woman fighting for her life in hospital after being mauled by three dogs in a backyard in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs had been attacked by one of the pets just days earlier, says a neighbour.
Jordan Garrett was spotted by neighbours running away from the Ross Street property screaming after being attacked by one of several dogs living at the home earlier this week.
A neighbour, who did not want to be identified to protect her safety, said the dogs had been a concern among locals, but she was shocked to hear Garrett had been attacked again on Thursday.
“I was home sick from work, and I heard screaming and smashing,” she said.
At first, she thought it was an argument between Garrett and her partner.
“Then police came, and the shooting began,” she said.
Officers were called to the home about 10am on Thursday. They tried to ward off the three dogs by using pepper spray, but when the attack did not abate, they shot the dogs dead.
Garrett was taken by ambulance to Dandenong Hospital after suffering serious injuries during the attack.
She remained in hospital in a critical condition on Friday afternoon.
On Friday, the Greater Dandenong City Council confirmed it had received numerous complaints and concerns from neighbours about dogs at the property.
“We have previously taken action in response to those concerns and visited the property,” chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said in a statement.
Weatherill said Thursday’s incident was still under investigation.
The council had begun prosecuting a resident at the house, who was not the victim, over an alleged attack on another dog in July, and the matter was due to go to court in November, she said.
Security camera footage of the alleged July attack seen by The Age shows a large tan and white dog mauling a smaller shiba inu in the front yard of a home along the street.
WARNING: This video contains graphic scenes
In the video, the owner of the shiba inu can be seen trying to pull her pet back by the lead, while the larger dog attempts to bite its neck.
At one point during the incident, the shiba inu’s owner is forced to the ground and uses her legs to try to ward off the larger dog.
Eventually, a man comes running from around the corner and attempts to get the larger dog off the Shiba Inu.
“Let go,” the man can be heard screaming as he kicks the dog on its side.
The owner of the Shiba Inu, who asked to remain anonymous, said another pet had also been attacked by the larger dog two days later.
In CCTV footage of that incident, a person can be heard screaming and crying while a man attempts to stop the attack.
“Oi,” a man can be heard screaming repeatedly. “No, stop.”
“I really hope this will end soon. I love my dog and where I live is my residential house. I just want to live somewhere quiet and peaceful where I can walk my dog again with no fears,” the owner said.
Weatherill said the council had put in extra resources to make sure it responded to attacks and safety concerns quickly, including by educating owners and prosecuting them.
Councillor Rhonda Garad, who also lives nearby and visited several neighbours following the attack, said the incident had a heavy impact on the area.
“How many times has the council been out there and what actions have been taken?” Garad said. “They were really scared … People shouldn’t live in fear in their own homes.”
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