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Woman fighting for life after dog attack in Melbourne’s south-east
By Marta Pascual Juanola
A young woman is fighting for her life after being mauled by three dogs in a backyard in Melbourne’s south-east.
Police were called to a home on Ross Street in Dandenong about 10am on Thursday following reports of a serious dog attack.
Officers tried to ward off the dogs by using pepper spray on the animals, but to no effect.
They then drew their guns and shot the three dogs dead.
Paramedics arrived at the scene and took the woman, who is in her 20s, to Dandenong Hospital. The hospital declined to provide an update on her condition, citing patient confidentiality.
A black dog was seen running around the front yard of the property before it was tied to post by a police officer. It’s unclear whether that animal is connected to the home.
A police officer out the front of a Dandenong home where a woman was attacked by three dogs on Thursday morning.Credit: AAP
The property was taped off on Thursday afternoon as officers combed the area for evidence. Aerial images obtained by Nine News showed the bodies of two dogs in a cluttered backyard.
The three dogs included a pit bull and two bulldogs, Nine reported.
A nearby resident, who asked not to be identified over fears for her safety, said the dogs had previously been aggressive towards neighbours and other dogs. She said they were often running loose in the front yard of the home, despite multiple requests from locals to tie them up.
“Lucky the dogs didn’t attack somebody else,” she said.
The resident said the area was popular with families, many with young children.
A former neighbour said she decided to move out of the area after a family member witnessed another woman being attacked by one of the dogs.
One resident told Nine: “[The woman] was screaming, ‘the dogs are killing me, I’m dying, I’m dying’.
“It was very scary.
An aerial shot of the Dandenong property where a woman was attacked by three dogs on Thursday morning.Credit: Nine News
“We have so many [who] did the complaint, and now they have increased the [height of the] fence, because [the dogs] can jump from the fence also.”
Greater Dandenong City Council chief executive Jacqui Weatherill confirmed council officers had attended the property following “a serious dog attack”.
“We were very concerned to hear that someone was seriously injured in this incident,” Weatherill said in a statement.
“As an investigation is under way, we are unable to comment further at this time. We will continue to work with Victoria Police on this matter.”
The council did not disclose whether it had received any complaints about the dogs before the attack on Thursday morning.
Police are investigating the incident.
With AAP
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