Nambour, Qld: Police Officer attacked by 65kg dog

"[The dog] left him with a bite injury so deep it exposed a bone in his forearm"

A 65 kilogram boxer mastiff cross attacked a police officer as he stepped from his car this week.

The officer was visiting a property to check on the welfare of the resident when the incident occurred. It is believed the owner had let the dog off its chain so it could go to the toilet. The dog ran down the side of the house and through the front gate in order to attack the police officer who was stepping out of his car.

A witness claimed the officer was lucky to be alive, saying that if the [dog's] family hadn't been there, it would have "ripped the officer to shreds."

The officer was taken to hospital with "extensive injuries" to his left arm.

The dog was surrendered to council and then put down.

Prepared using report "Dog put down after attack on police officer", Sunshine Coast Daily 7/10/08, http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/oct/07/dog-put-down-after-attack-police-officer/, accessed 9/10/08.