Skip to main content
News

Dog attacks are no accident

By September 30, 2017November 24th, 2017No Comments

Mayor Tom Gilmore is urging dog owners to be responsible after a child was attacked last weekend in Chillagoe.

Council understands the 12-year-old was visiting the small town with his family when two dogs attacked him in the main street. The boy received several wounds to his legs and was initially treated in Chillagoe, then at the Mareeba Hospital before being transferred to Cairns for surgery on his leg.

Mayor Tom Gilmore said that everyone has the right to feel safe in a public place. “All dog owners would like to think their pet won’t show aggression towards other animals or people, but it can and does happen for many reasons,” Cr Gilmore said.

“This is a timely reminder that all dogs must be on a leash at all times outside your property and under continuous supervision. You are responsible for the actions of your dog.”

Over the past three months, Council has received 42 complaints of dangerous or aggressive dogs.

Cr Gilmore said it is important to report any incident involving an aggressive dog.

“Council takes dog attacks very seriously. We will not tolerate people letting their dog wander at large harming other animals or people,” he said.

“There are laws in place to protect our community and penalties apply if people do not follow these requirements of owning a dog.”

Council is currently conducting an animal inspection program across the shire to ensure that dog owners are meeting registration requirements.

Cr Gilmore said the purpose of the program is also to ensure that owners comply with their duty to provide safe and secure enclosure to prevent the animal from wandering at large.

“Owners can receive serious fines if their dog is found roaming at large, and if they’re unregistered there are even more serious consequences,” he said.

All dogs in Queensland must be registered by law.

Council followed due process and the dogs involved in the incident last weekend were surrendered and euthanised on Monday afternoon.