Amelia Hermawan never had a reason to think she wasn’t safe on one of her daily walks with her Australian Shepherd, named Kylo.
Their park of choice on February 15 was Gramercy Boulevard Playground, Kylo trotted ahead on his lead, and the two enjoyed their evening stroll, when they were attacked.
Ms Hermawan said the attack was unprompted and vicious, they didn’t see or hear the other dog advance, but the force of the animal’s jump was so strong, it knocked her to the ground.
“He went straight at my dog’s face, and started biting, his neck, his side and his underside,” she said.
“I tried to intervene but I was tangled up.”
By the time Ms Hermawan was able to free herself, the people responsible for the dog had pulled him away.
Rushing to the vet, Kylo was found to have multiple punctures, lacerations, needed four staples and had lots of bruising.
Ms Hermawan said she provided Wyndham council with all the photos and proof that she had, but when she spoke to a council ranger, all they could tell her was the dog would be moved to a different neighbourhood.
“I don’t want the dog to be put down, that’s the last thing that I want,” she said.
Ms Hermawan said she “wants council to do something” about the situation, and for other dog owners who have been victim to dog attacks be kept in the loop about the outcome of their incidents too.
“How are we supposed to know if [penalties are] actually [being given]?,” she said.
Wyndham council’s community amenity local law states that a person keeping a dog must ensure that the dog does not behave in an offensive or threatening matter by physically striking, biting, chewing or jumping at any person or other animal beyond the boundary fence of the land on which it is kept.
Ms Hermawan said she also wants the dog to be classified as ‘dangerous’, or ‘menacing’ which would mean the owner would need to display a warning sign at all entrances to the premises where the dog is kept, warning them that a menacing dog is present.
Under the Domestic Animals Act 1994, councils in Victoria can declaring a dog to be menacing if the animal causes a non serious bite injury to a person or animal, or if it rushes at or chases a person.
Wyndham council’s city operations director Stephen Thorpe said council officers had received information about a recent dog attack in Point Cook.
“As the matter is still under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on the circumstances of this incident,” Mr Thorpe said.
“Generally, in response to dog attacks, Wyndham city officers use a variety of enforcement measures depending on the severity and circumstances of each individual incident.
“These can range from setting an animal management plan, infringements or legal proceedings against the owner.”
