Teenager Mauled In Savage Dog Attack

[DMA]

Teenager mauled in savage dog attack

DAMON CRONSHAW

17 May, 2012 04:00 AM

A LAKE Macquarie woman is recovering from a savage dog attack that left her with injuries to her ear, neck and arms that required 19 stitches.

Natalie Southam, 19, of Mirrabooka, said two American Staffordshire terriers that lived next door jumped two two-metre fences into her property and attacked her.

Lake Macquarie City Council confirmed the owner of the dogs involved in the attack surrendered them to a council ranger and the RSPCA euthanised them.

Council waste environment and rangers manager Keith Stevenson said in a statement the council had completed interviews with people involved and intended to ‘‘prosecute the owner of the dogs for the attack’’.

Animal welfare activists have accused the council of failing to declare the dogs as dangerous, despite 11 complaints over three years about dogs at the property.

The council said rangers had investigated all complaints or referred them to the RSPCA.

‘‘Under the legislation, council has not been presented with sufficient evidence to warrant the issue of a dangerous dog declaration for any dogs on the premises,’’ Mr Stevenson said.

‘‘Council has not received any report that any of the dogs has previously attacked a person or other animal.’’

But a letter that the council rangers’ department sent to councillors last December said the council had received 11 ‘‘service requests’’ about dogs at the property from March 2009 to November 2011. They included allegations about dogs escaping, dogs fighting, dogs killing puppies for food, dogs causing noise and distress to neighbours and dogs killing goats.

A council official said last night there had been insufficient evidence to support the allegations.

Ms Southam said the two dogs bit her thigh, arm and ear, before pulling her to the ground during the attack last Friday.

‘‘One of the dogs grabbed me around my neck and I felt her tooth against my skull,’’ Ms Southam said. ‘‘I blacked out at that stage.’’

She said her partner, Lee Smith, saved her life when he swung a rake at one dog’s head: ‘‘If it was a few more seconds I wouldn’t be here.’’

Mr Smith, 35, said the dogs’ owner jumped two fences and pulled the other dog off Ms Southam.

Mr Smith said one of the dogs had bitten him on the leg a year ago.

Society of Companion Animal Rescuers spokeswoman Callie Redman said she witnessed and took photographs of dogs mauling each other on the property in October last year.

‘‘I warned the council about this six months ago,’’ said Ms Redman, explaining that she gave the photos, along with residents’ accounts of the dogs acting dangerously, to the council, RSPCA and police.

She allegedly witnessed a dozen dogs on the property.

The rangers’ department letter that was passed on to councillors said council received a complaint of 17 dogs on the property.

Ms Redman questioned whether it was an unauthorised breeding operation.

The council letter said previous legal and planning advice about similar allegations indicated ‘‘the occupier has to derive the majority of his or her income from the business of breeding and selling animals before approval is required’’.

Ms Redman alleged she had photographic evidence to show dogs on the property were covered in mange, scars and open wounds.

Ms Redman said she made five complaints to the RSPCA.

RSPCA chief inspector David O’Shannessy said his organisation did investigate, but was unable to prove offences had occurred beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Smith said the owner, who was his friend, looked after the animals as best he could and took them to the vet when needed.

Ms Southam said the owner was a ‘‘good friend to me’’ and she could see how much the attack on her had hurt him.

The Newcastle Herald left messages for the owner, but he did not return calls.

IN HER OWN WORDS

How Natalie Southam described the attack

TWO pedigree American Staffordshire terriers jumped two two-metre fences, allowing them access to our backyard.

I have looked after these dogs so much in the past.

Honey [one of the dogs] lunged forward and bit my right inner thigh. Bubba [the other dog] jumped over Honey and grabbed my right wrist before she even touched the ground. They started pulling me downwards.

Honey bit down over my left ear and it felt wet and gummy. She then let go and bit down on my neck and I felt her tooth on my skull. The owner got Honey off my neck as Lee [her partner] hit Bubba on the head with a rake. I passed out for a few seconds.

When I woke up Lee had his singlet top over my ear to stop the bleeding. I remember feeling like my ear wasn't there any more. Lee kept me awake and kept talking to me.

I told him my neck was hurting really badly. I remember the look on [the owner's] face. I understood how bad he was feeling. He is a good friend to me and I could see how much this was hurting him.

Source: Newcastle Herald - http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/teenager-mauled-in-savage-dog-attack/2559300.aspx?storypage=1

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Note there's more to this story...

[Plan B]

Note there's more to this story...

Which is?

Shouldn't this be in the 'News' section?

[DMA]

Note there's more to this story...

Which is?

It'll be in the Newcastle Herald tomorrow ;)

Shouldn't this be in the 'News' section?

It is

[Kirislin]

I too am wondering why you've posted this in rescue, and what's with the wink and smile.

Edited May 17, 2012 by Kirislin

[Steve]

What so we are supposed to guess why its in rescue ?

Nothing in the Newcastle Herald sheds any more light on this.

Some people complained, the council investigated and they couldn't find evidence of anything wrong.

The RSPCA investigated and couldn't find anything wrong. Please explain if there are any gaps fill them in.

Edited May 17, 2012 by Steve

[nawnim]

Can somebody please explain what this thread is all about I just don't get it.

[Cheyd]

There is another article in the paper today

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/news/general/council-accused-over-dog-attack/2560531.aspx?storypage=0

Council accused over dog attack

DAMON CRONSHAW 18 May, 2012 04:00 AM THE state government has been urged to investigate why authorities failed to declare dogs as dangerous on a Lake Macquarie property, before a savage dog attack occurred.The Newcastle Herald reported yesterday that two American Staffordshire terriers that lived on the Mirrabooka site jumped two two-metre fences into a neighbouring property and attacked Natalie Southam, aged 19.

The attack, last Friday, left Ms Southam with wounds to her ear, back of the neck and arms that required 19 stitches.

The dogs were destroyed after the attack.

Lake Macquarie City Council said it did not have "sufficient evidence to warrant the issue of a dangerous dog declaration" before the attack.

To read the Herald's opinion, click here.

But the council was accused yesterday of ignoring dozens of complaints about dogs acting in a dangerous and vicious manner at the property.

Society of Companion Animal Rescuers vice-president David Atwell said the council "should be investigated for its part in this sorry affair".

Local Government Minister Don Page's office did not respond to questions about whether he would conduct an investigation, whether dangerous dog laws should be toughened and whether American Staffordshire terriers should be a restricted breed.

Mr Page's spokeswoman said: "Council has advised that it is responding to this matter."

Council waste environment and rangers manager Keith Stevenson said in a statement there had been 11 requests to the council about dogs at the property from March 2009 to November 2011.

"Some were anonymous and some from third parties," Mr Stevenson said.

"Each matter was appropriately investigated, or responded to, by an inspection of the premises and interview with the owner by a ranger."

Mr Stevenson said the council had a "sound record in pursuing action against owners who are found to have dangerous dogs, including orders and court actions".

Stephen Smith, of Mirrabooka, said he and his partner Meike Jackson contacted the council many times.

"I would speak to the council, they would tell me to speak to the RSPCA and they would tell me to speak to the council or police," Mr Smith said.

The couple's complaints were about "dogs screaming and trying to kill each other, constant fighting, howling and barking".

Residents said one dog was killed on the property by another dog and "puppies were ripped to pieces" several times.

The Herald left messages for the owner, but was unable to speak to them.

The owner was yesterday advertising American Staffordshire terrier puppies on the website dogzonline.com.au.

‘‘We are a small kennel dedicated to breeding quality dogs,’’ it said.

Mr Stevenson said in a statement that rangers had previously inspected the premises and ‘‘did not believe the owner was operating a dog-breeding business, given there was a relatively small number of dogs (five to six) found’’.

But Ms Jackson said up to 40 dogs were kept on the property at times.

‘‘I told that to council rangers,’’ she said.

[shmoo]

The owner was yesterday advertising American Staffordshire terrier puppies on the website dogzonline.com.au.

Oh dear.

[Lyss]

Still... why is it in rescue? Could have been posted in news

[megan_]

I still can't see why this is posted in rescue. If you believe that someone dodgy is selling Amstaff's on dogzonline tell Troy directly.

[Guest lavendergirl]

Its in the Dog Cruelty and Abuse thread. The OP was probably just confused about where to post. Interesting to see that the pups are advertised on this site

It sounds like a hellish kennel .

[WExtremeG]

Ms Redman alleged she had photographic evidence to show dogs on the property were covered in mange, scars and open wounds.

Ms Redman said she made five complaints to the RSPCA.

RSPCA chief inspector David O’Shannessy said his organisation did investigate, but was unable to prove offences had occurred beyond a reasonable doubt.

Mr Smith said the owner, who was his friend, looked after the animals as best he could and took them to the vet when needed.

It was alleged that they were were not vet treated? But investigations were unable to prove any offences had actually occurred. the girl who got bitten was a good friend of the owner as was her boyfried,

So why is this in the abused/rescue section?

Confused...!