HORROR HOUND

Owner faces court after 55kg dog slaughters livestock, escapes pound in mysterious circumstances and kills again:

A HUGE dog mysteriously returned to its Geelong home after being impounded for a vicious attack that killed two farm animals, a court has heard.

Max the 55kg great danecross then killed a neighbour’s goat, feasting on its flesh for up to two hours with another dog called Brute.

Geelong Magistrates’ Court was yesterday told Max and Brute belonged to Anne Marie Davies, of Horseshoe Bend Rd, Charlemont, near Armstrong Creek.

Ms Davies was prosecuted by the City of Greater Geelong on a series of charges over the attacks, and the fact the dogs were at large and unregistered.

She left the court in tears, with bills of more than $6000, and confirmation that Max will be destroyed.

The court heard Max was at a rural property on Reserve Rd, Marshall — 3km from Ms Davies’ home — when he attacked two rams on January 29.

One was found dead floating in a dam with its stomach contents hanging out, the other was savaged and had to be put down, city prosecutor Wayne Lugg said.

A witness followed Max to his home, and council officers went there shortly afterwards, finding the dog with fresh blood on his chest.

The dog was immediately seized, but the court heard it was stolen from the pound on its first night locked up.

Mr Lugg told the court Ms Davies was back in possession of Max by early April, when he and her Staffordshire terriercross, Brute, attacked her neighbour’s goat.

The prosecutor said a veterinarian told council’s animal control officers the goat’s injuries showed it had been attacked by a large dog and chewed on for up to two hours.

He said Ms Davies would not explain to the officers how Max came back to her, and it was believed her third dog, a wolfhound, was not involved in the attack.

None of the dogs were registered, he said, and the owner agreed to surrender Brute, while Max was again impounded.

Ms Davies told the court the wolfhound had since been rehomed.

She said her family no longer had any dogs, but was now better prepared to restrain Max.

“We have horses and foals on the property as well, and (the dogs) have never shown aggressive behaviour to them or our kids,” Ms Davies said.

But magistrate Ann McGarvie said the dog was now too dangerous to return home.

“He has killed three animals, and their deaths must’ve been horrifying,” she said.

“I don’t trust you to properly fence him in or ensure he won’t attack (again).

“If a dog is willing to do this to a sheep or a goat there is a huge danger it will do it to a child or another human.

“You have failed in your responsibility as a dog owner. It is not Max’s fault, it’s your fault.”

The magistrate ordered that Max be destroyed, fined Ms Davies $5000, and ordered the dog owner also pay $850 compensation to the owner of the rams, $200 to the goat’s owner and almost $250 in court costs to the City of Greater Geelong.