Page 1202 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 29 March 2017
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the existing legislation, a lack of education of dog owners about their responsibilities and obligations and an apparent lack of priority from this government concerning dogs have resulted in a problem that is rapidly running out of control.
On 17 January this year, after the media reported a man losing part of his hand in a dog attack, I called on the Canberra community to share with me their experiences or concerns about dangerous dogs. I have been inundated with messages. I have been inundated with personal stories of dog interactions that have left many in our community feeling vulnerable and fearing for their safety. I have been deeply disturbed by much of what I have discovered.
After reviewing dozens of stories concerning personal dog attack experiences from all over Canberra, it is clear that something needs to be done. From figures given to me by the government, a person presents to hospital emergency departments in Canberra because of dog attack every three days; and this rate is increasing, and it is unacceptable. Last year in the ACT there were 155 presentations at hospital emergency departments. In the past five years there have been over 550 presentations at hospital emergency departments. The number of dog attacks treated in ACT hospital emergency departments has increased by 50 per cent in the past five years, and this increase in injuries is leading us to recognise it for what it is—a crisis in this arena.
Alarmingly, the second highest injury in dog attacks in ACT hospital emergency departments has been to the victim’s head. If overseas data can be used as a guide, the highest incidence of dog attacks is to children under 15 years of age, with the highest level of dog attacks on five to nine-year-olds. Even if the injuries are not life threatening, the long-term impact of a physical attack and potential mental scarring of a child can be profound.
There were 360 officially reported serious dog attacks in Canberra last year. This means that there is, on average, a serious attack reported in Canberra every day. It is of great concern that there is also anecdotal evidence that there are many serious dog attacks that are not officially reported. According to some people, the real numbers of dog attacks is significantly higher than the 360 reported in the official figures.
It is galling for owners who lose their beloved pets to vicious dog attacks and go through the trauma of reporting the offending dogs to find that, more often than not, the dogs are returned to their owners or are rehoused with other families. Dogs that have been found to have committed vicious attacks on people or other animals are returned to the community.
The government’s own figures show that in the past five years in Canberra there have been over 550 presentations at hospital emergency departments. In the same period, again based on the government’s own figures, there have only been two prosecutions of dangerous dogs; only two, Madam Assistant Speaker.
Based on the consultation we have had with the community, there appears to be a glaring anomaly, where innocent victims currently bear the medical, legal, veterinary, cremation and other costs of an attack. The government needs to take action to ensure
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