Belmont family on brink of selling home over claims of vicious dogs, drugs and obscene behaviour

A fed-up Geelong family claims vicious dogs, drug use and obscene behaviour allegedly coming from a Belmont commission flat has them on the brink of selling up.

Two dogs at a Belmont home had allegedly been seized over a neighbourhood dispute.

A fed-up Geelong family claims vicious dogs, drug use and obscene behaviour at a nearby public housing flat has them on the brink of selling up.

Young mother Sarah (not her real name), 30, says she feels like a prisoner in her own Belmont home after buying the property two years ago. She claims to be on the receiving end of indecent exposure, aggressive, constantly barking German shepherds and vile abuse from tenants inside the unit.

She claims one neighbour was recently bitten by one of the dogs and required medical treatment at Geelong hospital.

“We were stoked to be owning our first own home and have walked into a nightmare,” she said.

“We’re paying a mortgage and rates for what privilege?

“We shouldn’t have to live like this.”

It’s understood two dogs were seized from the same address in July after a court proceeding involving the City of Greater Geelong (CoGG) animal management team.

Sarah said she was now waiting for a second hearing “where we hope the last three dogs are taken” after it was adjourned earlier this month.

“I don’t even dare take our one-year-old for a walk anymore,” she said.

“It’s so appalling and it has been the longest two years.

“We all feel trapped.”

She described the bureaucracy of trying to resolve the matter between CoGG, Victoria Police and the courts as “an absolute circus”.

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said the barking dogs kept him up most nights.

“We just feel we are getting absolutely nowhere with the constant red tape,” she said.

“What’s it going to take for this to be taken seriously?

“We have called the police regarding the excessive noise but they just say it’s a council issue.”

A CoGG spokeswoman said the city would not comment due to the “current legal proceedings”.

Sarah said authorities had “not been of any help.”

“It’s like it’s a too-hard basket and they can’t be bothered taking it further.”

[e-mail]

Originally published as Belmont family on brink of selling home over claims of vicious dogs, drugs and obscene behaviour