Photo shows dog lurking in waves before attack on girl and horse at WA beach

A dog – believed to be a pitbull terrier – was pictured lurking in the water off a WA beach moments before it apparently attacked a young girl on a horse last week.

Jolanda Capes from Mariginiup posted an appeal for help to find the animal's owner on her Facebook page, claiming the dog locked onto her daughter Jessica's foot at Hillarys Horse Beach on January 10.

“To the irresponsible owner of the dog who bit my daughter and her horse whilst she was riding at Whitfords Horse Beach at 10 this morning, thanks for coming back to assist us!” she wrote.

“We are in Joondalup Hospital waiting for treatment. If anyone saw the incident and can give me a description of the dog and his owner it would be much appreciated.”

According to Ms Capes and her friend Leanne Holland, who posted a similar account to a Perth Facebook page, the owner vanished shortly after the dog attacked, leaving gashes in the 11 year old girl’s foot and in one of the horses.

“It leapt up and bit her on her left foot but he didn’t just bite, he hung on like a tug-of-war rope,” Ms Capes told the Joondaloop Times.

“He hung on to her foot for a good 20 seconds while we were all frantically screaming.

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“I don’t want the dog euthanised but I want the owner to be forced to have the dog on a lead and muzzled if he’s going to go in to a public space.”

Her friend Leanne Holland backed her account with her own social media appeal.

“The dog eventually dragged her off the horse and only let go when my angel of a horse kicked out at the dog once the child was on the ground,” she wrote.

Both women claim the dog’s owner vanished after telling them he was locking the dog in the car.

The pair posted images of the aftermath to social media, while another picture has emerged which appears to show a black dog in the waves behind the horses.

The young girl needed surgery on her foot to treat a six centimetre gash and other puncture wounds. Images also appear to show a wound to the horse.

“If anyone was on the beach and can give a description of the owner or if anybody knows who he is can you please PM me,” Ms Holland wrote.

“This is not the dogs (sic) fault but an irresponsible dog owner.”

Joondaloop Mayor said the council was investigating.

“The male owner of the dog left the scene and the City is asking for any witnesses… to contact the City on 1300 655 860 so a full investigation can be undertaken,” he said.

Today's top news stories- January 16