In Moreland there were 57 incidents reported in which a dog attacked another animal compared with 28 against people in 2010-11.
Two of Jennifer Fraser's dogs have been attacked while she's been walking them.
"You can feel a bit powerless in that situation but I don't like to show fear," the Mornington resident said.
The first incident happened six months as ago at Dunns Rd Reserve, when an alaskan malamute "took a chunk" out of Ms Fraser's chihuahua, Ruby.
"The vet said she was very lucky."
This month, at the same leash-free reserve, Ms Fraser's fox terrier, Puck, was attacked when he growled at an approaching staffordshire terrier.
"The staffy latched on and they had a massive fight," Ms Fraser said.
But she said that both dogs were at fault and she picked her dog up.
Severe recent examples include a german shepherd which jumped the neighbour's fence and killed a small dog in the Yarra Ranges, while a boxer-like dog attacked and killed a maltese/shi tzu at Dunns Rd Reserve.
(White Horse Leader - June 25, 2012)
