Three year old killed in Queensland

"... trying frantically to stem the bleeding from a punctured artery in his neck ..."

Three year old Korbin Sprott was killed in Mackay, Queensland, last month, following an attack by his grandfather's dog.

The Brisbane Times reports Korbin was playing in the front yard of his home at about 6:45pm when the German Shepherd attacked. Korbin was taken to Townsville Hospital, where he was in a critical condition and later died.

Korbin's grandfather intervened in the attack and suffered bite wounds to his forearm. Family and neighbours attempted to stop bleeding from Korbin's neck.

Mackay Regional Council impounded the dog at the request of police and family signed an indemnity form requesting the dog be put down.

Dozens of people in Townsville have donated food and money to the family.

Prepared using report "Boy, 3, dies after dog attack", www.brisbanetimes.com.au 29/10/13, http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/boy-3-dies-after-dog-attack-20131029-2wdj1.html, accessed 21/11/13. Photo from the source article where it is attributed to Facebook.

Toddler mauled in Melbourne

"This thing was just possessed ... It just flat out wanted the baby"

A one year old child has suffered "horrific facial injuries" following a dog attack this morning.

The boy had turned one just two days ago. He was being pushed in a pram by his grandmother at the time of the attack.

Passing motorist Damian Hall says he saw the dog half inside the pram when he stopped to assist. At first he used a wrench from his vehicle to attempt to beat the dog away but he said the "thing was just possessed ... it just flat out wanted the baby".

He then attempted to remove the dog himself and was assisted by a second man named Michael. Together they managed to distract the dog long enough for the grandmother to drive away.

Superintendant Graham Kent said after the attack, "It's pretty scary that these dogs are in our community".

Michael said Mr Hall deserved a medal for his bravery. "He strangled it with his bare hands. Unbelievable."

Local year 11 student Jess Bretherton says she saw the dog in her yard just an hour before the attack, took photos and alerted her father who alerted authorities. Nobody attended until after the attack. The teen said that they had previously trapped the same dog in their back yard and had authorities remove it.

A council spokesperson confirmed the dog was microchipped and registered as a "bull terrier cross".

Authorities reported the boy suffered face and neck injuries. The boy's grandmother suffered bites to both arms. Another woman was attacked and suffered injuries to her shoulder.

Prepared using report "Dog mauls tot, good Samaritan in attack in Melbourne's west", news.com.au 18/11/11, http://www.news.com.au/top-stories/dog-mauls-tot-good-samaritan-in-burnside-attack-in-melbournes-west/story-e6frfkp9-1226197871647, accessed 18/11/11. Photo from the source article where it is attributed to Jess Bretherton.

"Ayen died at the scene despite ambulance officers' attempts to revive her."

Four year old Ayen Chol has been killed in her own home by a neighbour's pitbull.

Her two cousins have also been injured - a five year old girl was bitten on the face, and a 30 year old was bitten on the hands and arms.

Ambulance officers failed to revive Ayen at the scene. Ayen's mother Jaclin Appok is being comforted by Sudanese community leaders while her father is in Sudan.

The incident occured while the family was living at the cousins' house after the family's own house had burned down.

Prepared using report "Girl dies, two injured in Vic dog attack", au.news.yahoo.com 18/8/11, http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/article/10062001/girl-dies-two-injured-in-vic-dog-attack, accessed 18/8/09. Photo from the source article where it is not attributed

Beenleigh, Qld: Man mauled by pet doberman

"found the man suffering multiple bite wounds to his body"

A 45 year old man was mauled by his pet doberman last night. Paramedics were called to his house at Beenleigh, south of Brisbane, and found him suffering multiple bite wounds to his body.

He has been taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital for treatment.

Prepared using report "Man mauled by pet dog", news.com.au 20/4/09, http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/qld-news/man-mauled-by-pet-dog-20090420-ac05.html, accessed 20/4/09.

Snake Valley, Vic: 8yo attacked at Rottweiler breeding farm

"Michaela, 11, saw the attack and thought her sister was going to die"

Eight year old Jessie McGillivray was attacked on a Rottweiler breeding farm at Snake Valley near Ballarat in Victoria this week.

She was helping her father and uncle to clean out cages and feed more than 20 rottweilers when the attack occured.

The dog allegedly randomly ran for her, latching on to her leg. Her uncle had to prise the dog's jaws open using a plank of wood but was unable to hold the dog back. Jessie managed to climb onto a fence when the dog attacked again.

Jessies sister Michaela, aged 11, said through tears that she saw the attack and the dog "got her and pinned her to the ground ... I thought she was going to lose her leg".

Jessie's mother Sue, who is divorced from Jessie's father said the family wanted the dog put down but she defended her ex-husband's decision saying "They are bred to be pets. You would assume they are safe".

Jessie was treated at Ballarat Hospital. Police have said they will take no action over the matter because Jessie touched the dog's food while it was eating.

Prepared using report "Don't blame us for savage dog attack", news.com.au 20/4/09, http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25357548-421,00.html, accessed 20/4/09. Photo from the source article where it is attributed to Joe Sabljak.

Tweed Heads, NSW: Dog latches on to 4 year old's face

"It's just locked on and ripped into him completely unprovoked"

Four year old Connor Reimer is lucky not to have lost his eye according to his mother, after he was attacked by a border collie in Rae Pascoe Park at Tweed Heads on Saturday.

The border collie was roaming the park without its owner when it rushed at Connor and latched onto his head.

"It didn't go for a nip. It locked on to his face." said Connor's father Jim who witnessed the attack.

An ambulance was called and Connor was transported to Tweed Hospital with cuts and bruising to his face.

Police took the dog to Tweed Heads station before it was collected by a ranger and taken to the pound. The owner has indicated they do not want the dog back and it will be euthanised.

Connors mother Patrizia is angered that the law allows for the owner to have taken the dog home despite the attack. Legally, the owner has seven days to explain why the dog should not be declared dangerous and then the regulatory services co-ordinator makes a decision on whether the dog should be declared dangerous.

Mrs Reimer says she wants to see the law changed so that council has the power to keep offending dogs in custody and to put them down if necessary.

Prepared using report "Roaming dog grips face of boy, 4", Goldcoast.com.au 31/1/09, http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/01/30/44235_gold-coast-news.html#comment, accessed 31/1/09. Photo from the source article where it is attributed "Connor Reimer's scars from the attack"

Brisbane, Qld: Dog Attack Statistics

"Brisbane-wide, the Staffordshire bull terrier was ... responsible for [145] attacks [in the 11 months to December], while there were also 113 cattle dog attacks."

Data on dog attacks from the north-west region of Brisbane have been released under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. These include the statistic that with 145 attacks recorded Brisbane-wide, the Staffordshire bull terrier was responsible for the most dog attacks in the eleven months to December. Cattle dogs were reported in relation to 113 attacks.

In the north-west region during the same period, Staffordshire bull terriers were responsible for 14 attacks out of a total 81 reported. Cattle dogs were responsible for 12 attacks and unidentified breeds were attributed to 19 attacks.

The information includes data on the speed with which council investigations were carried out. While some investigations occurred immediately, others took several months. The average investigation took 37 days.

Prepared using report "Attack culprits named", North-West News 7/1/09, http://north-west-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/attack-culprits-named/, accessed 7/1/09.