Monday, June 25, 2012

Dogs off leash a danger

AUSTRALIA -- Concern over leash-free areas is growing as figures collated by Melbourne's councils show the number of attacks on dogs eclipsed the number of those against people.

In Moreland there were 57 incidents reported in which a dog attacked another animal compared with 28 against people in 2010-11.


Two of Jennifer Fraser's dogs have been attacked while she's been walking them.

 "You can feel a bit powerless in that situation but I don't like to show fear," the Mornington resident said.

 The first incident happened six months as ago at Dunns Rd Reserve, when an alaskan malamute "took a chunk" out of Ms Fraser's chihuahua, Ruby.

"The vet said she was very lucky."

This month, at the same leash-free reserve, Ms Fraser's fox terrier, Puck, was attacked when he growled at an approaching staffordshire terrier.

"The staffy latched on and they had a massive fight," Ms Fraser said.

But she said that both dogs were at fault and she picked her dog up.

Severe recent examples include a german shepherd which jumped the neighbour's fence and killed a small dog in the Yarra Ranges, while a boxer-like dog attacked and killed a maltese/shi tzu at Dunns Rd Reserve.

(White Horse Leader - June 25, 2012)