Horrific vision as 'bullmastiffs' leave neighbours scared to let kids outside
Just one month away from expecting her first child, a Gold Coast woman is living in fear of killer dogs terrorising her community.
A brutal attack by what are thought to be two large bullmastiffs was captured by Serenity Cove resident Emily Livingston’s home security system last Thursday.
The CCTV provided to Yahoo News Australia of the attack has led frightened locals to call for immediate action to prevent further bloodshed.
As the video begins, a large male kangaroo can be seen struggling to stay afloat in a river, trying in vain to defend itself with its small arms as the massive dogs lunge from both sides.
Its attackers momentarily swim away, offering a moment of respite to their victim, and the motion activated camera cuts out.
When the recording resumes, one of the dogs has the kangaroo in its mouth and is shaking the frightened animal like a doll.
The recording once again drops out as the dogs swim away.
One of them is negotiating its way around Ms Livingston’s fence and into her yard, pacing around like it owns the place.
As the other dog resumes attacking the kangaroo, its friend becomes excited and jumps back in the water.
They maul their victim one last time with renewed brutality and then leave it to bleed out.
Kids not allowed to play outside after dog attack
After watching the video Ms Livingston has been left heartbroken for wildlife in the area, but also worried that a human could be targeted by the dogs next.
“I worry that now they’ve chased one kangaroo, are they going to come back and do it again,” she said.
“It was quite a big roo, so anything smaller wouldn’t stand a chance at all.”
Having only moved to the picturesque suburb four months ago, Ms Livingston is now eight months pregnant and had been looking forward to raising a family in the seemingly safe community.
“Lots of people are worried, the street has a really good community of kids who all ride their bikes up and down the street,” she said.
“We have a Facebook group for the community and a lot of parents are worried; they won’t let their kids outside a the moment.”
In social messages seen by Yahoo News Australia, other residents have echoed her concerns, with one man saying it was important that local children are warned about the dogs.
Another person said they had seen the dogs chasing ducks, kangaroos and “anything that moved”.
Man sees dog attack on Facebook and rushes to help
Ms Livingston had been blissfully unaware that the dogs were in her backyard until local man Richard Byrne and his son sounded the alarm.
Having seen a post on his community’s Facebook group about the attack, Mr Byrne rushed outside with his son to help and tracked the dogs along the waterway.
It was not the first time he had witnessed the dogs chasing kangaroos, and this has left him angry at both the pets’ owners and local authorities.
Mr Byrne told Yahoo News Australia that despite contacting the City of Gold Coast twice since December, and providing the name of the small street where he believes the animals live, the dogs continue to terrify his neighbourhood.
The City of Gold Coast said in a statement to Yahoo News Australia confirmed an investigation is in progress and as a result they are are unable to comment about the specifics of the case.
Kangaroo’s horrific injuries uncovered as rescuer arrives
By the time Mr Byrne got to Ms Livingston’s home on Thursday, the dogs had fled across the waterway and residents were left to clean up.
Locals worked together to try and coax the shivering kangaroo to land, but it refused to budge.
Blood was turning the water red when WIRES rescuer Amy Wregg arrived.
Working as part of a partnership between the NSW-based wildlife agency and local veterinary clinic Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, she has attended to many cases of wildlife chased into water.
The experienced carer worked quickly to calm the kangaroo using a sedative shot as a blow dart.
Together with Mr Byrne, Ms Wregg then waded into the water, keeping watch for bull sharks which are attracted to blood.
After hauling the kangaroo onto dry land it was clear the injuries were severe, with onlookers noting deep punctures to his chest and a gash around its arm.
Suffering from fatal wounds and believed to be dying from a stress induced condition called myopathy, a decision was made to euthanise the frightened animal.
Rescuer calls for responsible pet ownership
Attacks on wildlife by pet dogs continue to be a significant factor affecting wildlife across Australia, as humans compete for territory, or refuse to take responsibility for roaming animals.
As bushland around the Gold Coast continues to be destroyed for development, Ms Wregg says WIRES are being inundated with calls to help wildlife.
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She says pet owners living near wildlife have a responsibility to ensure their pets are controlled.
“It’s pretty devastating to see natural icons getting mauled to death by domestic animals,” she said.
“It's easily avoidable if people walk their dogs up or have them on a leash in wildlife areas and things like that.
“Forever going out and rescuing animals injured by pets is getting a bit disheartening.”
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