Dog owners are being reminded to take responsibility of their pets, after there were hundreds of attacks on the Sunshine Coast during the past year.
Most incidents were close to the aggressive dog’s home, but there was also violence in designated dog areas.
There were 379 reported dog attacks, including 241 on pets and 138 on people, according to Sunshine Coast Council records.
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One local resident recently urged pet owners to be vigilant, after her furry friend was attacked in a dog park.
“If your dog isn’t a gentle soul, or if you’re not willing and able to grab it and control it if it gets out of control, please don’t bring it into this safe space,” she said via social media.
“My golden retriever pup was viciously attacked as we were leaving the park.”
“I thought he was okay when we left and after I’d had to physically drag the attacker off my pup. But the time I got home, I realised one of his eyes was bleeding.
“The animal who attacked him (whilst my dog was leashed and leaving the park) had attacked him from behind as soon as it arrived and gone directly for his face.
“A visit to the vet and $400 later and my beautiful, gentle boy is lucky he’s not permanently blinded. He has a split eyelid, bites around his eye, a cut ear, and is on antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for the next week.
“I’d hate to see what could have happened to a smaller dog, or to one with an owner less physically capable than I am. Vicious and unpredictable dogs do not belong in dog parks.”
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said incidents generally occurred close to homes.
“The most common location for dog attacks is directly outside the property where a dog resides … it is the responsibility of all dog owners to ensure their dogs are secured on their property and cannot escape into a public space.”
How to be a responsible dog owner
- Check your property regularly to ensure it is secure and that there are no holes, faulty gates, fences etc where a dog may be able to escape.
- Ensure your dog is on a lead when in public places and under voice command in designated off-leash areas.
- Socialise your dog and undertake dog training.
There are more than 52,000 dogs registered on the Sunshine Coast.
“Registering your dog and cat provides council with funding for pet-related services like animal management, responsible pet ownership education programs and support our pet partnerships through council’s grants programs,” the spokesperson said.
“The information gathered from pet registration also helps council plan for dog parks, off-leash areas and other pet facilities, where they’re needed most.”
There are 38 dog parks and off-leash areas across the Sunshine Coast.
The Council also conducts annual inspections to ensure regulated dogs are kept under control. Regulated dogs have essentially been declared dangerous or menacing. They can also be restricted dogs (breeds prohibited form importation).
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