Kanahooka, NSW: Two horses attacked

"I've seen dogs attack animals before but they usually go for the legs or the belly, but this dog knew exactly where to go to make a kill."

Two horses and a man were attacked by a dog at Kanahooka near Dapto in NSW.

The horses' owner Susan Myers happened to look out her window and see the attack in progress. She told her mother to call a vet and then went out to confront the dog, which she believes was a female pitbull cross.

The dog first attacked a 25 year old Shetland pony named Rosie which was expecting to give birth. Ms Myers reports that no amount of yelling at the dog would cause it to let go of the pony's throat.

A man came to the rescue, hitting the dog with a lump of wood, but the dog then ran into the next paddock and attacked a quarter horse named Zida.

The dog "went for my other horse in the next paddock and just launched straight at her throat," said Ms Myers. "I've seen dogs attack animals before but they usually go for the legs or the belly, but this dog knew exactly where to go to make a kill."

After attacking the quarter horse the dog then chased a man who was walking his own dogs. The man made it inside his house just before the dog reached him but the dog continued to savage his door.

Police and a council ranger attended the scene and captured a second dog, but the dog which attacked the horses was not located.

Ms Myers reported that the ponies are used by children and she remarked that "If [children] were here it could have been really, really bad."

Rosie the Shetland Pony delivered her foal two days later and all horses are expected to recover from the attack.

Prepared using report "Dog brutal, pony owner warns", Illawarra Mercury 12/11/08, http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/dog-brutal-pony-owner-warns/1358555.aspx, accessed 13/11/08. Photo from the source article where it is attributed "Beware: Susan Myers checks the injury a dog left after attacking quarter horse Zida around the throat. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI"

Umina, NSW: Girl's lip ripped off by dog

"She was screaming and there was blood everywhere. It nearly ripped half of her cheek off"

A nine year old girl has been tragically mauled in Umina by a dog which was known to her.

Alannah Smith was playing in her front yard on Monday evening. A boy playing with Alannah remarked that she wanted to come inside for ice cream so she opened the front gate, which is when the dog attacked her.

Alannah's 19 year old sister Katrina Grey did not hear the dog but heard Alannah's screams. She said the dog still hung around after the attack. Katrina brought Alannah inside, covered in blood.

Alannah's mother, Rebecca Trevor, commented that she had taught her children not to play with other people's dogs. She thought Alannah may have been more relaxed regarding this dog because she had seen it many times before and knew its name. She called for it to be destroyed.

Alannah is now in Westmead Children's Hospital undergoing specialist treatment and has received facial reconstruction surgery.

Police officers attended the scene and found a portion of Alannah's lip on the lawn. They transported the lip immediately to hospital.

Although the dog had disappeared by the time ambulance officers arrived, a neighbour advised police the dog was now in their back yard. Police contacted the dog's owner and a council ranger who seized the animal. They have also applied for a court order for the animal to be destroyed.

The dog is believed to be a "Rottweiler-type".

Prepared using report "Dog rips off Allannah Smith's lip", The Daily Telegraph 11/11/08, http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24637097-5006009,00.html, accessed 11/11/08 and "Girl savaged by Rottweiler-type dog in yard at Umina", The Daily Telegraph 11/11/08, http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24635072-5001021,00.html, accessed 11/11/08. Photo from the first source article where it is attributed "THIS is nine-year-old Alannah Smith, the little girl whose lip was torn off by this dog - photographed by a relative. Alannah's family have now told of the horror of the attack. l".

Warnambool, Vic: Surgery after dog attack's woman's face

"The first thing (to do) was get the ambulance, there was that much blood"

Debbie Wedlock is fortunate to be alive after a stray dog savagely attacked her face at Warnambool on Saturday.

Wedlock was arriving home when she noticed what she described as a "skinny" bull-mastif, Rhodesian ridgeback cross on her front lawn.

Having bred pitbull terriers, Wedlock took compassion on the stray and brought food out to it. She went to pat the dog which then mauled her.

Her former partner and father of her two children, Chris McPherson, was in the house at the time of the attack. He rushed out at the sound of screams and had to kick the dog off Ms Wedlock's face.

Mr McPherson remarked that "the first thing [to be done] was [to] get [an] ambulance, [because] there was that much blood."

Police attended and the dog was impounded by a City Council Ranger who explained that the owners were believed to be away at present. If the dog is not claimed within 8 days, it may be destroyed. If the dog is claimed, it will be declared a dangerous dog and will be required to be permanently kept in an enclosure.

Prepared using report "Shock as dangerous dog attacks woman", The Standard 11/11/08, http://warrnambool.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/shock-as-dangerous-dog-attacks-woman/1356634.aspx, accessed 11/11/08. Photo from source article where it is attributed "Debbie Wedlock underwent surgery after a dog attack. 081110DW43Pictures: DAMIAN WHITE Debbie Wedlock, who was attacked by dog on Friday night. Chris McPherson helped her escape. 081110DW40 "I had to kick it off her face. If it was a little kid, who knows what could've happened?" Chris McPherson".

Washington DC, USA: President's dog attacks reporter

"The seemingly docile dog snapped at [and bit] him"

Reuters reporter Jon Decker was bitten on the index finger by President George W Bush's pet dog Barney outside the White House today.

The event was captured on film and quickly made its way onto the internet. The clip ends with a frame showing Barney's fangs about to bite Mr Decker.

The White House doctor applied first aid. As the bite pierced the skin, Mr Decker is now undergoing a course of antibiotics.

Prepared using report "George Bush's dog bites reporter", Sydney Morning Herald 7/11/08, http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/george-bushs-dog-bites-news-reporter/2008/11/07/1225561094627.html, accessed 7/11/08. Photo from source article where it is credited to AFP.