A family’s deadly dog which mauled a 10-year-old girl has been put down after a savage attack left the girl fighting for her life.
Two unregistered dogs were seized by council officers after the girl was left with shocking injuries from her own pet in the Melbourne suburb of Berwick on Sunday.
In a statement on Monday evening, the City of Casey Council confirmed a South African Boerboel had been ‘destroyed’ with the owner’s permission.
A South African Boerboel belonging to the family in Berwick, south east Melbourne, was put down
The girl and her seven-year-old sister were believed to be home alone at the time of the attack (family home in Berwick pictured)
The dog attacked the child in the Melbourne suburb of Berwick on Sunday night. A ‘beware of the dog’ sign is seen at the home
The council said: ‘The dog believed to be responsible for the attack has been identified as a South African Boerboel, while the second dog has been identified as a Bull Mastiff.
‘Neither dogs were registered with the City of Casey.’
The council on Monday revealed they have previously issued four infringements to the dogs’ owner.
Officers were called to the same home in December after the family’s other dog, a Bull Mastiff, acted aggressively towards a passer-by.
But the incident wasn’t considered severe enough to seize the dog from its owners, who were slapped with a fine.
The council said the previous infringements imposed on the family were for biting a person, the dog being ‘at large’ at night and failing to register two dogs.
Earlier, hero neighbours described the moment they saved the girl who was ‘thrown around like a rag doll’ as she was viciously mauled by her own dog.
Owners of the South African Boerboel (similar to the one pictured) that mauled a 10-year-old girl must ‘seriously consider’ putting it down, according to the RSPCA
Dr Liz Walker, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, described the attack as a ‘tragic and devastating event’, but urged the family to consider having the dog euthanised (stock image)
Dr Liz Walker, Chief Executive of the RSPCA, described the attack as a ‘tragic and devastating event’, but urged the family to consider having the dog euthanised.
‘This is a discussion for the family and the council. But It would have to be something they would seriously consider,’ Dr Walker told the broadcaster.
The girl remains in hospital and is lucky to be alive, according to neighbours who helped saved her.
Jimmy Baird was at home watching television with his wife when they heard screaming from a nearby house.
‘A young girl came out saying her sister was being attacked by the dog,’ he said.
Mr Baird and another neighbour ran to the home where they found the terrified girl banging on a door trying to get away from the dog.
‘I tried to open the door, when I opened the door the young girl was banging on the door and screaming, and the dog was trying to get through the door,’ a neighbour said
‘We tried to get the door open. As I opened the door, this massive head was coming through the door frothing at the mouth. It was obviously going to go us,’ Mr Baird told Nine Network on Monday.
The men went around to the side of the house and distracted the dog, allowing the girl to escape.
‘I’m glad we were there because the young girl probably wouldn’t have survived,’ Mr Baird said.
Another neighbour told 3AW their parents were at the gym when the dog attacked.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said dog owners need to take responsibility for their animals.
‘If you own an animal then it is your primary responsibility to make sure that you have control of that animal and that it doesn’t pose a risk to others,’ Andrews said.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said the matter would be handled by the local council but added the incident served as a reminder for people to keep control of their dogs.
‘Whether they’re in your backyard or out on the street, it doesn’t absolve your responsibility of keeping your animals under control,’ Mr Ashton said.
Bullmastiffs are a large breed of dog and their ancestry can be traced back to the English mastiff and the English bulldog.