Perth Voice Interactive

A dog owner has escaped with a $400 fine after his two staffordshire bull terriers mauled a dog in front of two terrified children in Mt Hawthorn.

It is the second time in a year the staffies had been reported to Vincent city council for attacking a dog.

The two boys, aged four and six, were walking an elderly neighbour’s 10-year-old Lhasa Apso along Federation Street with their father when the staffies escaped from their yard and attacked.

The father of the boys managed to fend them off before their owner’s son intervened, but his leashed charge had sustained bite marks to its front leg.

Vincent council acting CEO Rick Lotznicker said the owner of the injured dog does not want the staffies put down.

“Destruction of the dogs is unlikely to be attained as the attacks were between dogs only and no injuries were sustained by any persons as a result of the attack,” he said.

“The offending dogs’ owner is very cooperative, remorseful and apologetic and has indicated they will comply with any requirements the city determines appropriate on the matter.”

He said the previous attack by the staffies on July 20, 2012 was of a “minor nature involving another dog that received minor superficial injuries and did not require veterinary attention.”

Council issued the owner with a $200 fine for not leashing the dogs in a public place, and $200 for the dogs causing a nuisance.

The city is applying to have the dogs declared “dangerous” and forced to be muzzled and leashed.

Vincent mayor Alannah MacTiernan said the response from council was appropriate to the severity of the attack.

“The severity of the attack does not justify the dogs being destroyed,” she said.

“If the dogs are declared ‘dangerous’, it will have severe implications for the owner and help to ensure public safety.”

Mr Lotznicker added that punishments are more severe when a dog is declared “dangerous”.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK