Neighbours’ bombshell claim after dog attack
Neighbours have claimed dogs that mauled two women in Melbourne’s northwest were reported multiple times before the horror attacks.
A young mum was walking her baby in a pram on Friday afternoon when she was set upon by a group of dogs in Sunbury, with neighbours hearing her scream.
Witness Mark Jackson told 7News there was “blood everywhere … legs, ankles, arms, elbows, hands” during the attack at Withers Close.
The woman was rushed to The Alfred hospital with serious injuries.
The attack reportedly marked the second by the group of four dogs in just two days, with a 71-year-old woman allegedly mauled by the dogs on Thursday after the dogs were roaming off-lead.
While the owner has apologised and said the alleged attacks have “broken (her) heart”, neighbours say the dogs had been stirring trouble for months, according to the Daily Mail.
“They’ve been reported many times … They scare the hell out of you,” Mr Jackson said.
At least five neighbours say they had complained about the dogs to the Hume City Council, however nothing was done, the Daily Mail reported.
The masthead reported one neighbour was told they needed to restrain the dogs before a ranger would investigate.
Local Anna Jackson also said the dogs had attacked someone two or three months ago, with the dogs biting a man on the leg.
Hume City Council councillor Jack Medcraft said there was a “process” for removing dogs from properties, according to the Daily Mail.
“You can’t just go onto a property and take a dog. That’s the problem, even if it does attack you. You’ve got to go through a process,” Mr Medcraft said.
The dogs have reportedly now been euthanised, with the owner telling 7NEWS she had run out and “put (her) body over the woman” during the alleged attack on Friday.
“It’s just been heartbreaking for me and I just pray for her,” she said.
“I am just so, so happy that the baby was okay … The dogs didn’t go near the baby, thank God.”
The owner also called her dogs her “family” while apologising.
“I’m sorry to the public, I’m sorry to the community and it’s broken my heart,” she said.
“I am embarrassed and I love my dogs. I’m sorry. They were my family.”
