Dog lover recalls pit bull attack

Reservoir man Eric was walking his two small dogs on Arundel St, Reservoir, about 7.20pm in the evening when he and his dogs were attacked by an American pit bull.

The pit bull killed one of the small dogs before attacking the other.

Eric, who did not want to give his surname, said the dog spotted him walking his two dogs and immediately attacked.

"He just started charging and he got into my big dog first, Coco, and locked his jaws over his head,'' Eric said.

"I fought with the dog to release my dog and he bit my hand and then grabbed my little dog, Snowball, and started thrashing her and basically killed her instantly.''

"I jumped on him to try to stop him, I tackled him and got him on the ground and had him basically in a headlock and he put his jaws around my hand, I was just trying to kill him to stop him,'' a still shaken Eric said.

"He was a beast, he was incredibly powerful, he would have weighed at least 50-60kg, but his surge was very powerful.''

RSPCA Victoria president Dr Hugh Wirth blogged on the issue today. Click here to replay it

Just minutes earlier, the same dog is believed to have mauled a cat to death, attacked a dog and injured it's owner, a 10-year-old girl.

Eric said he wasn't surprised to hear the dog had struck earlier.

"He must have had the taste of blood already, he'd been active earlier in the day, the way he ran at us, that's what he was after,'' he said.

"That's what they are bred for and there were two more pieces of meat there for him.''

Premier John Brumby today flagged new laws for local councils that would give them the power to to kill unregistered dangerous dogs found roaming the streets, without owners having the right to appeal.

Under the proposed changes, owners of restricted breeds, which include pit bull terrier breeds, Dogo Argentino (Argentinian fighting dogs) and Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian fighting dogs), will lose their right to appeal to the courts if their dog is unregistered and seized by a local council.

"If there is a dangerous dog breed, if there is a restricted dog and it's running along the street, you know, with no collar and not muzzled, that dog will be taken in by council and it will be put down,'' Mr Brumby said.

"This is a stronger policy, it's a tougher policy, there will be appeal rights that will be removed so the power will be in the hands of councils to make sure they can deal with dangerous dogs that reoffend or restricted breeds that are not complying with the terms of their registration.''

Fines will also increase for owners who do not register their restricted breeds of dogs or who breach the terms of the registration.

Following last night's attack intensive care paramedic Robert Voss had to use medical supplies to euthanase the pit bull.

He said he couldn't believe what he witnessed when he was called to the scene to help.

Two policemen were trying to restrain the dog and free the injured man's hand when Mr Voss arrived.

"Usually that fear and terror you see after a major disaster,'' Mr Voss told ABC Radio.

Mr Voss' immediate reaction was to ask the police officers how he could help.

"They said they had called the ranger to come and euthanase the dog,'' he said.

"I said that we could assist with that. As a last resort, we euthanased the dog for them.

"We used some sedation and then some paralysing agents.''

He said the police were loath to fire their weapons at the dog.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• pitbull
• kills
• dog

[laidspipe]

I have a blue pitbull and plays with 2 of my other dogs which are chihuahuas. N doesn't try to hurt them. My chihuahuas just had puppies n i put them next to him all he does is lick them and sniffs them. There not bred to kill u looser!! Sorry bout ur dogs. But my boy is a good dog!!!

[ozziejase1]

What a looser. there is nothing wrong with pitbulls. People may keep hearing that its the owner not the dog. thats because its true pitbulls are loving caring loyal dogs why blame the whole breed for the actions of a few dogs and the mutt of humans that make them aggressive and beat the dogs up all there life and FORCE them to fight other dogs etc. so dont blame all pitbullss for the actions of a few pitbulls. Chihuahuas are one of the top breeds that bites humans honestly

[SUPERPOOKIE93]

You had better get off your computer, walk ur fatass upstair and file yo mamas corns! She is calling u! And u know what happens when u don't don't come! Lol you will be told more scary bedtime stories of the FRANKENMAULER! Better yet to keep u within my reach my dear! They scary pitbulls will eat u alive and then shit on your soul if u leave ur mommies protection! FREAK!

[SUPERPOOKIE93]

Hmmm....? It seems u may be a little obsessed with a ANIMAL! Very creepy! Very sad! Very inmoral and sadistic

[SUPERPOOKIE93]

That is funny! Average horse related deaths? 220 and 71,000 serious injuries! That's so strange, if u are so concerned of public safety then why are horses not included in your witch hunt?

[SUPERPOOKIE93]

@youtoobwatcher3 "how do u account for 70% of dog related deaths do to pitbulls?" Ill tell u how! For misidentifying them for one! U people think everything that has some pittie features it a APBT! For 2, pit bulls are way over bred by scumbags trying to make a quik buck and for3 in many areas they make up a "large amount of the K9 population, see 1 and 2 :) and we are speaking a percentage average of 14 dog related deaths per year,not only pitbulls. I see u have a bleeding heart for horses?

[randyjsing]

"It's the owner, not the dog..." That's what I keep hearing. My question to those who say this without knowing the disposition of the dog or the owner is this...is it the owner's fault simply because the dog got out, or are you accusing the owner of mistreating/misusing the dog?

[leurseng]

I own a pitbull and after hearing this. I believe it's the owner not the dog. Just like a weapon it's there but once picked up by a person it can be use deadly. I feel sorry for this tragic situation and the family that had lost a family pet.

[Spitfire995]

another perfect reason to ban, and kill all pitbulls.

[YouToobWatcher3]

@gliva6 This is how stupid you are, resorting to the "racist" argument as a last resort. For your information dogs are not a race rather they are breeds. So call me a breedist, well deserved at that. You dummy.