Spike in Vicious Dog Attacks Spreads Fear Throughout the East

By Charles Stuart on July 23, 2021 in News

Dog attacks are up 43% across the Eastern Suburbs.

Local dog owners are concerned for the safety of their pets after a spike in vicious dog attacks across the Eastern Suburbs.
Recent posts on both the Bondi and Coogee Local Loop Facebook groups have drawn hundreds of comments, not only offering sympathy to the victims but also sharing their own stories, suggesting a spike in canine aggression.
One dog owner, who asked not to be named, said a recent attack on their dog had changed their pet and their perspective on walks long-term.
“He’s just not the same,” the dog owner told The Beast.
“We don’t take him to the park anymore, he’s just on the lead now. It’s not good for any of us. He’s much less social and not as happy as he used to be, and it’s been very stressful for us to be around other dogs too.”
Many of the attacks are reported to our local councils, and a fine or a muzzle order can be issued as a first response. Incidents can be escalated if further infringements occur. Attacks have been reported at Marks Park in Tamarama, Rose Bay Beach, Coogee Oval and Bardon Park in Coogee. A number of dog owners we spoke with said that they had been intimidated by the owners of aggressive animals and were terrified of reprisals for reporting the attacks.
“Waverley Council has been really good, they’ve done everything they can do to help,” the dog owner said.
“I had hundreds of people reach out to me who I either hadn’t spoken to in years or who didn’t even know me. It’s been a really big community response.”
While the NSW Office of Local Government only recorded a 7.5 per cent increase in total dog attacks across the state from January to March this year (compared with last year), ‘dog on dog’ attacks were up 24.7 per cent. Interestingly, ‘dog on cat’ attacks decreased by 7 per cent across the state in the same period.
More locally, however, total dog attacks in Waverley increased by a whopping 200 per cent, with Randwick experiencing a 73 per cent increase. Dog attacks in Woollahra actually decreased by 20 per cent.
It should be noted that these percentages are exaggerated by the low number of reported attacks. In Waverley, for example, only six attacks were reported from January to March this year, up from just two last year. Many attacks also go unreported.
Antony Kery, a principal veterinarian at Struggletown Vet in Randwick, told The Beast that socialisation was a key aspect in preventing aggression.
“Early socialisation – and lots of it – with a good trainer is key,” Mr Kery explained.
“Puppy schools are super important, even if you’ve had lots of dogs in the past. You want to find a good accredited trainer such as a Delta trainer that’s using fear-free training,” he advised.
There has been some speculation among residents that COVID-19 restrictions have led to a decrease in socialisation between dogs, which could explain the rise in attacks.
Mr Kery suggested that all dog owners can contribute to the safety of their pets and others, regardless of whether or not their dog exhibits aggressive behaviour.
“Never take your dog to an off-lead park until you’ve got very good recall training with your dog, which means they will come to you when you call,” Mr Kery told The Beast.
“There’s always going to be someone who lets their aggressive dog off the leash, and there’s nothing we can do about that. Have a look around, and if you notice a big group of people standing around chatting and not interacting with their dogs, maybe don’t go in there, because they’re not looking out for their dogs,” he added.
Mr Kery also advised that aggression in older dogs may require intervention from an animal behaviourist.