On Sunday the 9th of October, Elvis, our 15 week old French Bulldog and our other dog, a Poodle x Chihuahua (Gucci), were in the backyard of our home while I was out the front . Usually I wouldn’t let Elvis unsupervised out the back because of the holes that our neighbours dog, an Akita named Bear (the attacking dog) has previously dug under the fence line. I only went out the front to move my boat into the driveway and came back inside. I came inside to see and hear Elvis on his back begging for his life while Bear stood above him still trying to bite and grab Elvis by his stomach. I rushed outside grabbed Bear around the neck so as I could pick up Elvis and get him out of harms way. Bear was growling and showing aggression towards myself and what I was doing. As I picked Elvis up Bear was jumping on me trying to still attack Elvis who was limp in my arms. I opened the back door of my home to get inside away from Bear. As I did Bear pushed passed me to take off after Gucci, who had ran inside as well. At the time my partner and our 6 yr old daughter were a few minutes down the road at Strathpine. Our other 5 yr old daughter was in the kids play room, which is where Gucci and Bear ran. As I was screaming at my daughter to get Gucci or really just screaming, exactly what is quite hazy as there was a lot happening at that moment in time. Our 5 yr old has told us both that Bear was circling around her and jumping and growling trying to get to Gucci. She was smart enough to pick Gucci up and lock her inside her crate so Bear couldn’t attack her. Our daughter put herself further into harms way unknowingly because she could, even at her age, see that bear was trying to get to Gucci in an aggressive manor. The neighbour was contacted by us and she came and got her dog off our property while we rushed Elvis to the emergency vet at Albany Creek, but like we thought and as shattering as it was, and still is, we saw the life fade from his eyes and witnessed him take his last breath in my partners arms in the car on the way. At the Vet Elvis was pronounced DOA. No physical repose and no corneal response present.

Since the incident we have been in contact with the Moreton Bay Shire Council, Our local member for Joyner- Mick Gilliam, RSPCA, Police, Qcat, also have sought legal advice. Council have been less than helpful, still allowing the attacking dog to reside at the premises without adequate measures in place to stop the dog from getting under our fence again or restrained in any way. What the ranger believes adequate is 1 besa brick in the holes, that do not actually fill the hole, and having outdoor furniture leaned up against the house and fence to “prevent” the attacking dog to get down the side where the holes are. I note that this furniture is not secured and a 50/60kg dog could absolutely move this since it can jump the 2m fence. The ranger also advised that it can reside at the property if on a runner lead or locked inside the house when the owner is not there. All of this is while there is an evaluation of whether the dog is to be put on the dangerous dog register. This does not secure the safety of my family or other pets in our own home, where we are basically prisoners whilst this dog remains at the property in question. 

We are trying to get traction and create waves so that legislation is changed for the better. At present there is too many different council/ shire laws that are not in accordance with any form of median baseline state or federal on what happens in declaration of dog attacks.

We would like to see Legislation also change in that if an animal (dog) in this case gets onto your property and attacks and kills a pet/animal or human, that dog is to be seized and euthenised, as this has put into question the safety of any human or animal in their own home. Once an animal has killed it will kill again, especially if it has been blooded.

The second piece of legislation we want changed is that if you do have a declared dangerous or menacing dog, than that dog, at the cost of the owner, must be professionally obedience trained inside the time frame of the terms and conditions that must be met by owning a dangerous or menacing dog. This training must be signed off by the professional at hand and obedience testing must be overseen and signed off on by a council representative (Ranger). The council ranger must also sign off the dog to ensure that the dangerous or menacing dog in question is now trained and obedient enough able to be “controlled”. If the dog fails to meet these guidelines, it must be seized and further action is to take place. 

At the moment the dangerous or menacing dog act only bandaid fixes the problem at hand. The base problem is, you have a dangerous dog. That dog is still the same dangerous dog regardless of whether it is muzzled or in an enclosure. My legislation change would have the dog rehabilitated in a sense, so that not only would it be a dog that is housed in a safe manor but also in fact an obedient dog that is able to be controlled.

Myself or my partner are by no means animal haters or validating any form of senseless killing of any pet or animal. The measures and changes we are pushing for are for the better of ever pet owner, pet and member of the general public. Myself and my partner just never want to see this ever happen again as it has been absolutely shattering and heartbreaking for us.

We also urge that if a dog poses as a threat for any reason, regardless of the outcome (good or bad) please contact council and put in a formal complaint. In doing this it provides legal documentation that the dog in question will have this on record and preventative measures can be put in place so that it does not happen again, potentially for a worse outcome like poor Elvis'.

For anyone who agrees and is willing to stand behind us in creating change for the better, please sign and support this petition so we can create waves and a positive push forward to ensure the safety of all lives, Human and Animal.