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"