Dog owners warned amid a spike in Noosa dog attacks

An 87-year-old man lost a significant amount of blood and a local farm owner lost 30 sheep in separate dog attacks across Noosa.

Council Local Laws Manager Phil Amson said enough was enough, issuing a stern warning to all local dog owners.

“Owners need to take full responsibility for their pets.

“We’ve had about a dozen attacks in the last month, with nearly half occurring on people.

“Unfortunately this is a pattern that continues to repeat. Owners get complacent, dogs attack and innocent parties suffer – it just has to stop.

“All attacks are avoidable. If a dog is found roaming it will be impounded. If a dog is found to be a nuisance or aggressive the repercussions can be both serious and costly,” Mr Amson said.

The most recent attack in Tewantin resulted in an 87-year-old man losing a large amount of blood when a roaming dog savagely attacked his leg as he checked his mailbox. The dog, described as being a white Bull Terrier type, remains at large.

Council is calling for anyone who may have witnessed the attack or who has information on the whereabouts of the dog to get in contact.

“We urge dog owners to ensure their animal is kept within the confines of their property.

“Whether you’re living in town or in a rural area, the repercussions will be the same.

“In some cases, dog owners can face charges under the Act and can even face costly civil litigation.

“Above all, residents should be able to go about their daily routines without getting mauled by a roaming dog.

“Owners need to take responsibility for their dog and keep them on-leash or fenced in at all times,” he said.

Roaming dogs that are collected by Council are impounded for three days before being re-homed.

Dogs that are under investigation for aggressive behaviour or attacks can be declared dangerous by Council. This can result in fines for the owner and restrictions around how the animal can be housed and presented in public.

“A majority of dog owners are great but there are a small number of irresponsible owners who don’t take accountability for their own pets and the repercussions can be alarming.

“We’re calling on locals to contact Council if they see a dog roaming or if they see a dog displaying aggressive behaviour,” he said.

17 April 2019