Girl mauled months after dogs investigated

Picture: PIXABAY

By Bonny Burrows

The City of Casey had investigated the dogs living at the house where a 10-year-old Berwick girl was this week mauled by one of the family’s pet three for acts of aggression, it has been confirmed.
However, the council deemed the December 2017 incident “not serious enough to trigger seizure of the dog”.
A council spokesperson confirmed council officers had previously attended the Skyline Way home in December “following reports that a dog, which was described as similar to a bull mastiff, acted aggressively towards a woman jogging past the property”.
“Following an investigation, it was deemed the incident was not serious enough to trigger seizure of the dog,” the spokesperson said.
“It is unclear which of the two dogs was involved in the December incident.”
According to the council, officers had also issued four infringements to the dog owner in January and February relating to biting a person, allowing a dog to be at large during the night time, and two fines for failure to apply for registration.
The revelation comes after 4 March’s attack, where a girl was mauled by a South African Boerboel while home alone with her sister after 8pm.
Neighbours reportedly heard screams from the Skyline Way property shortly and rushed in to find the girl being attacked.
It is understood they distracted the dog and cared for the child until paramedics arrived.
The girl was taken to the Royal Children’s Hospital in a critical condition with bites to her neck, legs, arms and face.
A hospital spokeswoman said as of Monday morning, she was in a stable condition.
The dog involved in the latest incident will be euthanised, the council has confirmed.