Time to hold negligent councils and irresponsible dog owners accountable. Queensland is so far behind, its time to change the laws in alignment with the rest of Australia.

Dog attacks can occur between dogs, other animals and humans. When a dog attack occurs, it can have significant health implications resulting in physical or psychological damage for the injured person or animal......If your dog attacks a person or an animal, or you are a victim of an attack, these are considered serious incidents. Council will investigate the nature of the attack and take appropriate action under the Queensland Government’s Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008." Except when the local council has disregarded the ongoing evidence to the contrary, resulting in allowing a menacing dog to maul and kill, the mayor and councilors have refused to intervene, and the actions have demonstrated no regard for the safety and wellbeing of animals and individuals.

This is our story....
Living next door to an aggressive & menacing dog, with a negligent council certainly poses issues.

 We were a bit dubious, the neighbours aggressive dog is not is a secure yard (it can jump the fence using the wood the neighbour has piled against it) it is able to access our yard where it had previously come up to our back door, growling and snapping which council has ignored. This very dog had snapped and charged at us in our own front yard when attempting to open our driveway gate, on several occasions, with both photo and video evidence sent through to the council spanning several months. 

The neighbours Pitbull (yes the one council does nothing about!) Attacked our dog, putting its head through the wire fence, grabbing our dog by its throat, pulling her through the fence, dragging her 100m across the yard by her throat and killing her. She sustained crush injuries to her throat, spine, ribs and numerous broken bones. This was all done whilst the neighbours were home, doing nothing to prevent the incident - Is this then deliberate neglect or animal cruelty? Unfortunately, we were unable to get over the fence in time.

Bearly breathing, our dog was rushed to the vet, where she died. The local council and police notified of the attack, and the neighbours dog allowed to continue to roam. Council has refused to acknowledge the incident and no contingencies put into place. The owners do not have to keep the dog in a secure yard or restrain the dog.

Dispite providing video evidence of the incident, witness statements, an ongoing log of photos, videos and complaints of the menacing and aggressive behaviour, the council have failed to adequately investigate the matter. The council compliance officer has only ever liased with the owner of the aggressive dog, failing to gather any evidence. 

Despite the mauling of our dog, and the threat of an attack on our newborn, 10 days after the incident, the same dog has charged the unsecured fence (destroyed by the neighbour) in an attempt to attack and bite our other dog and myself. The council still has done nothing. We are no longer able to go into our own backyard, and fear for the safety of our newborn.

This ongoing saga has shown that the dog laws in Qld are non existent, individual council has the ultimate say and are not held accountable, there is no governing body protecting animals and individuals, that animals and individuals are not even safe in their own yard. It appears that nothing will happen until someone is killed, even then it seems no action will ever be taken. 

We are petitioning for a change

• enforce stronger dog laws which are in alignment with the rest of Australia
• make owners accountable for the actions of their dogs
• Have a governing body which enforces the current legislation across the whole of Queensland instead of individual councils deciding without any repricussions 
• Ensure that dog on dog attacks are seen as a serious matter, especially when displays of esculating behaviours - next is could be a child or baby
• Pass legislation where the owner of the agressive dog causing injury to an animal or person is required to pay vet and medical bills.
• Where damage is caused as a result of the dog attack, the irresponsible owner is fined and adequate contingencies put in place - ie, adequate fencing, dog training by recognised body, only allowed outside confined area with a leash, etc.

These incidents happen all to often, its time to prevent this from happening to someone else. Animals and humans alike should be safe in their own yard, free from abuse, danger and the threat of being mauled and killed.

Please help us make this happen before its to late, sign the petition and have your say!