The dog – believed to be a bull mastiff crossed with an unknown breed – also allegedly attacked and killed a chihuahua. It then turned on the chihuahua’s owner when she tried to stop it, mauling her on the arm.
Warringah Council is investigating the incident and has taken legal action.
In September last year, Man Keum Son said her husband and their three children were playing in the yard at about 8pm when the dog bounded through.
“It was terrifying,” she said.
“The kids were really scared and they screamed, and then ran inside. We were really upset. It came into our home (the garden) and scared our children.
“My husband told it to go away but the dog then turned on him and tried to attack him. He was shocked and he raced inside, closed all the doors and took a photo of the dog to send to the police.”
Mrs Son said the family was still shaken up.
“I’m really nervous to go outside,” she said.
According to Mrs Son, the dog is kept in a backyard, but the back gate is used as a main thoroughfare and the dog often escapes when the gate is left open.
“We said to the owner ‘your dog is very dangerous’ but they don’t agree.”
Mrs Son said she was angry that no action was taken after the incident, especially after hearing of the death of the chihuahua on Friday, January 8.
David Everdell, who lives in a neighboring property, said he was at home when he heard screams coming from the front lawn.
“The woman was screaming and I came out to find her covered in blood,” he said. “Her little dog was lying there dead and she was crying.”
The woman had been travelling around Australia in a campervan with the dog and was visiting friends in Terrey Hills when the incident happened.
“It’s all been very traumatic,” he said. “She had travelled all around Australia with the little guy.”
The woman was treated in Mona Vale Medical Centre but has since returned to her hometown of Grafton to bury the dog.
The Manly Daily visited the bull mastiff owner’s home but he was not there.
Another resident who lives in the same house as the dog owner, defended the animal and said it had a nice nature. He said he had no issues with his two-year-old daughter being around the dog.
“Normally it loves to play with people,” he said. “Sometimes it scares people though because it’s huge.”
Um, and it also likes to attack and kill pets and attack adults and children.
A Warringah Council spokesman said it had a number of options.
“When there is a dog attack and the offending animal can be identified, council can issue infringement notices, a Notice of Intention to Declare a Dog dangerous and, if appropriate, after 28 days officially declare a dog dangerous.”
If a dog is declared dangerous, the owners must ensure the dog is kept in an enclosure that will sufficiently restrain the dog and also prevent a child from accessing it.
When the dog is out, it must be on a leash and in the effective control of a competent person.
It must also have a muzzle securely fixed on its mouth to prevent it from biting, the spokesman said.
The dog is also not allowed to be in the sole charge of a person under the age of 18 years old.
THE BULL MASTIFF
The large and powerfully built bull-mastiff has a formidable appearance and well-established protective and territorial instincts.
When it is well-trained and well-socialized, the bull mastiff is a trustworthy and loving family pet.
Weighing up to 59kg, they can be aggressive with other animals, especially with dogs of the same sex.
On January 2, a seven-year-old Sydney boy suffered a significant bite to his face and leg injuries, when his uncle’s dog, believed to be a bull mastiff, attacked him.
(Daily Telegraph AUS - Jan 20, 2016)
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