Data shows dog attack rise

CONCERNING data has revealed the number of recent dog attacks across the region, just weeks after an urgent warning was issued to the state due to a spike in animal-related incidents.

Last year, 199 bite attacks, which generally involved a dog and left another animal or person injured, and 152 non-bite incidents where a dog caused fear to others, were reported to the Toowoomba Regional Council.

This was a slight improvement when compared to the previous year, with 218 bite attacks and 198 non-bite incidents reported.

Concerningly, more than 70 bite attacks have already been reported to the council this year, along with 62 non-bite incidents.

Councillor Tim McMahon said the incidents involved all types of dog breeds and sizes, with the majority occurring in Toowoomba and surrounding suburbs, while only a small percentage had been reported in rural towns.

“Most of the incidents involve dogs, where one dog has been involved in an incident with another dog,” he said.

“Incidents generally occur in a public place, such as one of council’s parks, either off-leash or on-leash or in a street.”

It comes after QAS clinical director Lachlan Parker said paramedics had identified a “concerning trend” of dog attacks across the state over the past couple of months.

“Over the past two or three months we’ve seen about nine bites per month,” he said.

“They are often not clean lacerations and quite jagged and deep and subsequently they can haemorrhage a lot and cause a lot of bleeding.

“They do range in severity but unfortunately we do see a large number of very serious injuries.”

An RSPCA spokeswoman said a dog’s individual tendency to bite was dependent on at least five interacting factors including heredity, early experience, socialisation and training, health and the behaviour of the victim.

“To be successful, any preventative strategy needs to address all of these factors as well as provide mechanisms to protect the community as a whole,” the spokeswoman said.

Cr McMahon said it was the dog owner’s responsibility to control their dogs at all times in public, ensure their dogs were properly enclosed in private yards and not allow them to wander.

“Council treats all reported dog attacks seriously and investigates matters thoroughly,” he said.

“(TRC) undertakes all actions strictly in accordance with the State Government’s Animal Management Act.”

Owners are encouraged to microchip and register their pets with the council annually.

TO REPORT A DOG ATTACK, PHONE 131 872.