Rocky woman calls for action after pet cat killed by dog

AUSTRALIA -- Almost 500 attacks by dogs on people or animals have been reported in the Rockhampton region so far this year.

The council has received reports of 278 attacks on people and 216 attacks on animals.

A vicious attack that killed a 15-year-old cat in its own home last week left her distraught owner wondering what it will take to keep dangerous dogs off the streets at night.

Police officers talks to a man after two dogs attacked a man
at the Frenchville Sports Club in March this year. The attack
was one of almost 500 recorded in the region this year.

The cat's owner, who didn't wish to be named for fear of reprisal from the dog's owner, said she made repeated calls to the Rockhampton Regional Council but despite this, the dogs responsible were still roaming at night.

She said the dogs which killed her cat had also killed other cats before and since the attack and despite the calls to the council they were still being let out by their owners and allowed to roam.

"I have witnessed these dogs at night, harassing people walking past their front yard or down the street nearby … are we to wait for a disaster when someone going to the aide of their pet gets mauled by these brutal dogs, before action is taken?"

A spokesman for Rockhampton Regional Council said identification of the offending dogs was still under investigation and appropriate action would be taken once the investigation was complete.

He said council figures could represent multiple reports of the same incident or aggressive, threatening behaviour and didn't necessarily represent separate attacks.

Reports are investigated by a Local Laws Officer and if there is sufficient evidence, the investigation progresses to the proposed regulation stage where owners are notified and have the right to appeal.

"This process can take a number of weeks," the spokesman said.

"If the dog is identified as a regulated dog, owners will be required to meet certain conditions and requirements.

"These include desexing, specific fencing, tagging to identify it as a regulated dog and signage on gates."

Residents who report attacks on an animal need to sign a statement and may be required to give evidence at a legal proceeding (QCAT).

(The Morning Bulletin - Dec 12, 2012)