Sylvania, NSW: Dangerous dogs destroyed

"It was a terrible thing to see ... there was blood running down the back of her leg"

Two dogs which attacked a 15 year old girl in Sylvania a fortnight ago have been destroyed.

Sutherland Shire council ordered the Staffordshire terriers' destruction and fined the owners A$2,200 for "owning a dog that attacks, not preventing a dog from escaping, not controlling a dog effectively and having an unregistered dog."

Matthew Bruce of Sylvania ran from his home after hearing the teenager scream during the attack. He said that there were two dogs and one of them was biting her. "It was a terrible thing to see she was running and one of them was attached to her. There was blood running down the back of her leg," he said.

Mr Bruce said council's response was "great".

Prepared using report "Dogs put down and bite put on owners", The Leader 25/9/08, http://stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/dogs-put-down-and-bite-put-on-owners/1282896.aspx, accessed 30/9/08.

Adelaide River, NT: Dog attacks dog, eaten by crocodile

"[The] two dogs ... repeatedly went to another property where they attacked a dog called Roxy"

Bruce Edwards today pleaded guilty in Darwin Magistrate's Court for allowing his two dogs to repeatedly attack other dogs in the area.

The court was told the two dogs were not fenced and repeatedly left the property to attack another dog named Roxy on a neighbouring property. The second property owner called police after observing the dogs fighting.

One of Mr Edwards' dogs was shot after the attack but the second was later eaten by a "killer crocodile".

Mr Edwards was given a 2 year good behaviour bond and ordered to pay the victim's vet fees.

Prepared using report "Killer croc takes vicious dog", Post 24/9/08, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/24/2373278.htm?site=darwin, accessed 24/9/08. See also: http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2008/09/27/6225_ntnews.html

Woodlands, WA: Dog kills dog

"He was half-dead [when] the husky literally spat him out ... the skin was ripped off his back"

A Siberian husky attacked a toy poodle when the two crossed paths whilst being walked by their owners near Jackadder Lake.

The husky's owner, Tony Cousins, says in defence of his dog that the poodle provoked the attack by running towards his own two dogs, which were on leads.

The poodle's owner, Matti Dickinson, asked "what if it had been a child?"

Following the attack Mr Cousins walked away with his two dogs, later providing the reason that the best thing he could do for the poodle was to remove his dogs.

Ms Dickinson and her dog were driven to the vet by another man. "The skin was ripped off his back and when they x-rayed him he had a punctured lung," she said.

After her dog dies, Ms Dickinson looked up Mr Cousins in the phone book and went to his house to inform him. Mr Cousins then phoned police, saying Ms Dickinson was pounding on his door and that her actions had shaken his family very much.

Ms Dickinson accused Mr Cousins of not having control over his dogs despite their extensible leads. Mr Cousins has three registered dogs and says the Siberian huskies are people-friendly dogs which have visited old age homes and play with his 10 month old granddaughter.

Ms Dickinson bought her dog as a puppy two years ago, for $1,200.

Prepared using report "Dog kills dog", Post 20/9/08, http://www.postnewspapers.com.au/20080920/news/002.shtml, accessed 19/9/08. Images of Pucci the toy poodle (top) and Tova the Siberian husky with its owner Tony Cousins (bottom) from the source article where they are uncredited.

Furnissdale, WA: Dog attacks ranger

"The dog, named Chopper, latched onto the ranger’s left leg."

A shire ranger was attacked by an American pit bull in Furnissdale, Western Australia yesterday.

The ranger had a warrant to apprehend the dog, named Chopper, following allegations it had earlier attacked another dog. Early reports stated that despite a warning sign on the property's gate, the ranger entered and approached the dog which then attacked him. Later reports argued that earlier reports were incorrect, the officer did not ignore a warning sign and the officer knew "better than that" as he had 18 years experience.

A second ranger came to the rescue and managed to free the man of the dog. Police were called to the scene and the dog was surrendered without incident. It is believed the dog will be destroyed.

The ranger was admitted to hospital and required surgery.

The Shire is considering legal action against the dog's owner.

Prepared using report "Ranger hurt in attack", Mandurah Mail 19/9/08, http://mandurah.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/ranger-hurt-in-attack/1277352.aspx, accessed 19/9/08 and "Dog attack reports 'incorrect'", The West Australian 19/9/08, http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=98689, accessed 9/10/08.

Fraser Is., Qld: Dingo attacks 3 year old girl

"The [3 year old] girl was bitten on the back and buttocks"

A 3 year old girl has this week become the fifth victim in 12 months of dingo attacks on Fraser Island in Queensland.

The girl was playing near her parents who were fishing on a beach. The dingo approached and bit her on the back and buttocks. She was not seriously [physically] injured in the attack.

The girl's 2 year old and 7 year old siblings were nearby.

Authoroties are expected to destroy the Australian dog if it can be identified.

Prepared using report "Dingo fences to protect Fraser Island tourists", SMH 18/9/08, http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/fraser-fenced-after-dingo-attacks/2008/09/18/1221331009774.html, accessed 18/9/08.

Sylvania, NSW: Teenage girl hospitalised after dog attack

"Paramedics ... found the girl bleeding from both legs"

A fifteen year old girl from Sydney's south was admitted to hospital two days ago following a dog attack.

Paramedics were called to Easton Avenue in Sylvania just before 4pm, where they found the teenager bleeding from both legs. She was taken to Sutherland hospital and is in a satisfactory condition.

Prepared using report "Girl bitten by dog", The Leader 15/9/08, http://stgeorge.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/girl-bitten-by-dog/1272948.aspx, accessed 16/9/08.

Echuca, Vic: Suspicious toddler death after dog bite

"[There are] reports the girl fell and hit her head after being bitten by a red heeler"

Two year old Angela Bannister died in suspicious circumstances after being bitten by a red heeler dog the day before.

The incident happened in July in Echuca, Victoria, and police believe the girl's death happened in suspicious circumstances. Police are investigating reports the girl fell and hit her head after the dog bite occurred. It is reported the man caring for her communicated with a second man before leaving the scene and police would like to question that second man.

A second report states that the man with Angela at the time of the dog bite was her step-father Dan Simmons. Mr Simmons called for an ambulance to collect the unconscious child from their home. Her death occurred one month before she was due to turn two.

"I'm a mess" was all the Angela's maternal grandmother Tracey Walker could say following the launch of the murder investigation.

Prepared using report "Police investigate Echuca toddler's death", ABC 13/9/08, http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/09/13/2363681.htm?section=justin, accessed 13/9/08 and "Toddler death riddle, stepdad a suspect", Herald Sun 14/9/08, http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24341994-2862,00.html accessed 14/8/08. Image from the Herald Sun article where it is credited to Garry Richardson.

Tamworth, NSW: Elderly woman hospitalised after dog attack

"A chunk of skin from the back of the victim’s calf was still lying on the road in Rawson Ave following the incident."

An elderly woman has been admitted to hospital following a dog attack outside the front gate of the dog's home.

The woman had been walking with two of her friends when a small dog approached them and started sniffing their legs. A larger dog then approached the trio and bit the elderly lady on the back of her leg.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene and the dog - a border collie kelpie cross was subdued with capsicum spray.

The owner has surrendered the dog to council rangers to be destroyed and remarked "This is the first time he has bitten anyone but if you bite you can’t risk it happening again."

Prepared using report "Woman in hospital after being attacked by a dog", The Northern Daily Leader 9/9/08, http://tamworth.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/woman-in-hospital-after-being-attacked-by-dog/1266933.aspx, accessed 11/9/08. Image from the source article where it is credited to Robert Chappel.