AUSTRALIA -- A police officer has been left scarred after a border collie attacked him in Springvale.
The dog’s owner was fined over the incident during a hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
Sen-Constable Trevor Bergman arrived at a Springvale residence on police business at 7am on May 26.
His victim statement - tendered to the court - said the officer stepped over a 1m-high fence to enter the premises, after waiting for a short while for someone to come to the door.
He said he had seen a “Beware of Dog, Enter at Own Risk” sign, but believed the dog was on a leash.
As the officer spoke with the owner, the dog lunged at Sen-Constable Bergman and bit his left knee, piercing and removing a small chunk of skin.
“I am very concerned at the small very low fence at the front of the property and greatly concerned if a child, for whatever reason, climbs over the fence and is bitten or if the dog escaped,” Sen-Constable Bergman said in his statement.
He was taken to hospital and was on a course of antibiotics for five days.
The owner was ordered to pay $250 for failure to register the dog and $450 for the minor attack. No conviction was recorded.
Later, council prosecutor Steve Scott said residents should ensure safe access to their property.
“With the recent and tragic events, people need to be aware that they are responsible for their dog’s actions,” Mr Scott said.
Regulatory services manager Peter Shelton said the dog was not declared dangerous or ordered to be destroyed, because the attack had caused minor injury.
[This, ladies and gentlemen, is what typically happens when you deal with a Border Collie. You are bitten. Your arm is not ripped off. Your throat is not ripped out. You do not die.]
(Dandenong Leader - Oct 14, 2011)
