Fatal dog attack on baby prompts call for change to pet ownership rules in NSW

An inquest into the death of a five-week-old baby who was mauled to death by his family’s dog has made a recommendation that could affect pet owners in one state.

WARNING: Distressing details

A coroner has made a recommendation that could affect all dog owners in NSW at the conclusion of an inquest into the death of a five-week-old baby who was snatched from his mother’s arms and mauled to death.

An inquest conducted at the NSW Coroner’s Court was told about the deadly incident which occurred on the NSW Central Coast in July 2021.

The court was told the newborn baby, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was being held by his mother when she dozed off in a rocking chair.

When the exhausted mother woke, she realised the baby was no longer in her arms and discovered he was on the floor of his bedroom.

The five-week-old baby was mauled to death by the family’s six-year-old american staffordshire terrier (not pictured).

The father told police he woke up to his partner holding the newborn and crying: “The dog’s got the baby.”

The newborn sustained multiple puncture wounds which were “incompatible with life”.

The family’s six-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier was euthanised.

Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes concluded on Friday that his “tragic and untimely death” highlighted the need to amend the state’s pet ownership laws.

“I’ve become satisfied that not only have there been a concerning number of dog attacks on people in NSW over the past 15 years, but most of the attacks have been on children in their homes,” she said.

“Infants or children are at greater risk because of their size and vulnerability and potentially because of their behaviour around dogs.”

Ms Forbes concluded the current regulatory regime for pet ownership was “not effective at minimising the risk of serious or fatal dog attacks”. 

She made a suite of recommendations, including that the Office of Local Government and Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig consider requiring pet owners to hold a licence and receive safety and risk management training.

The inquest was told american staffies were involved in several vicious attacks.

People seeking to own dog breeds such as Pitbulls or American Staffys, which have been well-represented in dog attacks, may be required to obtain a special category of licence which would carry additional conditions.

Veterinarian and ethologist Paul McGreevy told the inquest the two breeds had a propensity “for initiating acts of aggression” and toddlers were “particularly at risk” if they crawled.

Evidence tendered to the inquest showed american staffys were responsible for the highest incidence of attack from 2018 to 2021.

The Central Coast council, which has the highest number of dog attacks in the state, had campaigned to classify the breed as restricted just months before the baby was killed.

The inquest was told the five-week-old boy’s death came only a month after the family’s American Staffordshire Terrier had fatally mauled the neighbour’s dog.

A local council officer issued a notice of intention to compel the dog’s owners to declare the dog as restricted, which would have required him to be muzzled when outside his enclosure. The process was ongoing when the baby was killed.

Ms Forbes suggested bolstering the powers of authorised animal officers to seize dogs or direct pets be secured with a muzzle or lead if deemed necessary.

Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes handed down her findings in the NSW Coroners Court in Lidcombe. Picture: NewsWire /Gaye Gerard

She suggested the authorities examine the efficacy of the current penalties for noncompliance and noted a recommendation she made in another inquest that a stand-alone offence be created for dog attacks resulting in serious injury or death.

The deputy state coroner acknowledged the regulations she recommended could be considered “onerous” by some people.

“Any disadvantage is far outweighed by the saving of lives and the prevention of injury,” she said.

The Office of Local Government is this year conducting a review of the Companion Animals Act and has pledged to take into consideration all of the issues raised in the inquest.