Dog laws lack bite
TWO dogs will likely be returned to their owner after attacking a woman on a Darling Heights street.
Denise Topp said she felt like “she had no rights” after the attack, which left her requiring surgery to repair the nerves in her arm.
“The ambulance people said it was lucky they didn’t go for my throat,” Ms Topp said.
“You don’t want to be frightened stiff in your front yard.”
Toowoomba Regional Council seized the dogs, but it’s likely they will be released under the Animal Management Act 2008 – something Ms Topp would like to see changed.
A DARLING Heights woman said she was shocked to learn the Toowoomba Regional Council was planning to return two dogs to their owner a fortnight after they had savagely attacked her in the street.
Denise Topp was walking to a friend’s house on October 11 when two dogs, described as “bull arab” in appearance, ran out of a property and started biting her.
She was rescued by another resident and taken to hospital, where she underwent microsurgery on a “deep wound” on her left elbow.
“There are about 20 children living around here,” Ms Topp said.
“If this had been a child, they would have been killed – these dogs are not just dangerous, they’re vicious.”
Toowoomba Regional Council Environment and Community Committee portfolio leader Tim McMahon said the dogs had been seized by the animal management team.
“Council’s Animal Management staff are investigating the incident and are in the process of declaring both dogs as regulated dangerous dogs,” he said.
Under the State Government’s Animal Management Act 2008, regulated dangerous dogs can be returned to their owner as long as a number of conditions are met and a permit is granted.
Ms Topp said she was “terrified” at the prospect.
“I just feel like I have no rights, and it appears council have said their hands are tied,” she said.
“The law needs to be changed at a state government level – it’s a public safety issue.”
Ms Topp said she had approached Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki’s team in the hopes the issue could be raised in parliament.