Police called to dog-on-dog incident in Blacks Beach

An unregistered dog that attacked Gary the Jack Russell and his owner on Blacks Beach has been destroyed, the first animal to be euthanased in more than four years before of an attack.

A dog that seriously mauled a Jack Russell and bit a woman at Blacks Beach has been surrendered and euthanased.

The dog, believed to be a bull terrier cross staffy, was surrendered to Mackay council officers after the vicious attack about 7.40am Thursday.

Gary the Jack Russell required emergency surgery while his owner, Ebony Snooks, suffered bite wounds to her arms.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the attacking animal’s owners volunteered to surrender it and had co-operated with authorities.

It was the first time in more than four years an animal was destroyed because of an animal attack.

“We don’t like that happening in our community, we have to have rules around it,” he said.

“This is the outcome of a very serious attack.

“We’re well into our fourth year of having no dogs put down who are re-homeable.

“In this case it is not a re-homeable dog.”

It is understood the dog was not registered.

From January 1 to May 31 2022, 49 dogs were euthanised after they were surrendered to council after a reported dog attack, which is higher than usual because of one incident where an owner surrendered 22 dogs for displaying aggressive behaviour.

Council has not euthanised a ‘rehomeable’ dog for more than four years.

It comes as Ebony Snooks says she is now afraid to walk on her local beach after a dog attacked her and Gary during a morning stroll.

Ms Snooks was trying to keep Gary out of reach of the larger dog believed to be an American Staffordshire as it was jumping up at the terrified pup – then it latched onto her arm.

“(It) let go of me and then got Gary and then it got lockjaw because of the type of dog it was,” Ms Snooks said.

“I just started screaming for people to come and help me.”

Ebony Snooks and her 2.5-year-old Jack Russell terrier Gary were injured when another dog attacked them during a walk at Blacks Beach on June 16, 2022. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Luckily it was a public holiday and there were many people enjoying the beautiful weather at Blacks Beach when the shocking attack occurred about 7.40am.

Ms Snooks said a number of men tried and could not prise open the dog’s jaws, which were clamped around her pup.

“It was horrific, no one could get Gary out,” she said.

Ms Snooks, who has puncture wounds to her arm, fingers and behind an ear, told this publication she walked Gary on her the beach “every day” and this is the first time she and her had been attacked.

“I was walking along Slater Ave where we walk every morning and we always start at the top of the stairs and walk down (towards Blacks Beach),” Ms Snooks said.

Blacks Beach where Ebony Snooks and Gary the Jack Russell were attacked. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

She first spotted the roaming dog on Slater Ave and initially believed it belonged to a nearby jogger, but was told it did not.

When the duo reached the beach and began walking Ms Snooks said the larger dog was following them.

“It was sniffing Gary,” she said.

“I just got a feeling so I picked him up because he had his hackles up.

“He clearly was a bit scared and worried.”

This is when things took a horror turn.

Ms Snooks said then suddenly Gary was free.

“They must have been able to open its jaws somehow,” she said.

“So we just ran up to the stairs.”

Gary the 2.5-year-old Jack Russell terrier was well cared for at Northern Beaches Veterinary Hospital after being mauled by a larger dog in a shocking attack at Blacks Beach on the morning of June 16, 2022. Picture: Janessa Ekert

A woman who had also been at the beach drove Ms Snooks home and then she took Gary straight to Northern Beaches Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

Gary suffered injuries to his scrotum and a back leg.

“We were going to breed from him but it now looks like we won’t be able to,” Ms Snooks said.

Initially she was told the wounds to her arm might need surgery but she was able to be treated at Mackay Base Hospital without it.

It is understood a 53-year-old man was also treated for injuries sustained while trying to break up a dog fight.

But Ms Snooks said when she picked up her antibiotics from the chemist she was told “this is about the third or fourth dog (bite) today”.

She urged other dog owners to keep their pets secure.

“Just don’t let this happen to someone else’s dog,” she said.

“(Gary) is just the sweetest thing. I’m just so frightened he won’t want to walk again and I don’t want to really walk again, I feel very fearful now.

“I’m usually there … by myself. I’m just so lucky it was a public holiday and there are lots of people around.

“He loves all dogs and he’s so so friendly.

“Everyone in Blacks Beach knows him he has that many friends.”

Members of the public restrained the attacking dog until Mackay Regional Council local laws officers impounded the animal.

Ms Snooks said she is now fearful about walking Gary at her local beach where she exercised him every day. Picture: Janessa Ekert

‘That terrifies me’: Second dog-on-dog mauling in two days

A two-year-old Jack Russell terrier suffered injuries to its scrotum and back leg in a shocking mauling at Mackay’s Northern Beaches that has left its owner “beaten up and shocked”.

The vet who treated the injured pup has urged dog owners to be responsible for their pets after the second dog-on-dog mauling in two days.

Council confirmed local laws officers have impounded a dog after it allegedly attacked the jack russell as it was being walked at Blacks Beach on Thursday. The dog’s owner was also injured.

About 7.40am, police were called as members of the public were attempting to contain the larger dog. It is understood it took several adults to keep the dog under control.

The Jack Russell’s owner and another person were injured, but Queensland Ambulance Service were not called.

Ms Snooks said the other dog began following her and Gary as they walked along Blacks Beach. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

The little dog was taken to Northern Beaches Veterinary Hospital for treatment.

On-call vet Jackson Clarke said the dog had a “pretty nasty” cut on the end of its scrotum and back of its leg, but both the scrotum and testicles were fine.

Dr Clarke said the Jack Russell was put under anaesthetic and the wounds were surgically cleaned and closed. The pup will be going home this afternoon.

He said the injured dog was “perfectly fine and clinically normal”. He added the owner was fine but a “bit beaten up and shocked”.

It is understood the dog responsible was larger than the jack russell, but the breed is not known.

Dr Clarke said he was also caring for another dog that had been mauled the day before, adding he came across “one to two a month, sometimes more”.

“We get a decent amount unfortunately,” he said.

Gary is now recovering at home after his horrific ordeal. Picture: Janessa Ekert

Jess Abdullah was at Blacks Beach on Thursday afternoon. She is the owner of a small puppy and when asked about the incident said “that terrifies me”.

“There’s no way I’d want to take my dog to the beach if I’m going to get attacked by another dog, especially when I have kids,” she said.

Ms Abdullah said having a dog off the leash was fine, but only if it was obedient and remained close to its owner at all times.

Mr Clarke said he had only encountered about three or four dog-on-dog maulings that had occurred on a beach in the 12 months he had been in Mackay.

Other examples included dogs jumping out of their yard or into another yard to attack a dog.

He said more than 50 per cent of the dog-on-dog attacks involved an animal roaming free.

“Just being careful and being aware of letting them roam loose … having them on a lead if your dog is aggressive, ” Mr Clarke said.

“Be aware of that is the main thing.

“And having your yard secured … just the general responsibilities of owning a dog, large or small.

Gary was treated at Northern Beaches Veterinary Hospital for injuries to his scrotum and a back leg. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

“Large dogs tend to be the ones to do a bit more damage but small dogs can do it.”

Health and Regulatory Services manager Craig Shepherd said on-call local laws officer went to Blacks Beach this morning and impounded the dog.

“It (the dog) had been restrained at the location,” he said.

“We understand a lady was walking her dog when the attacking dog wandered up and attacked.

“We have contacted the owner of the attacking dog and left a message for them to contact council.”

The news follows an incident at Andergrove on Tuesday night, where a woman in her 20s was taken to Mackay Base Hospital with arm injuries from a dog bite on Bedford Rd.

Council received 180 dog attack requests between January 1 and May 31 this year.

In 2021 there was a total of 445 dog attack requests.

Originally published as Police called to dog-on-dog incident in Blacks Beach