Family fear dog attack in street

Attack fear: Annette Squires of Koongal with her dog James, said her children are scared of a dog that roams her street and attacked her daughter.

Sharyn O'Neill

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• Fears dogs will attack again

KOONGAL mother-of-four Annette Squires believes it's only a matter of time until a rogue dog in her street seriously hurts someone.

Her 10-year-old daughter was scratched on the arm by the dog on Tuesday morning as she was walking out collecting her shoes from the car.

Annette said her daughter had taken her pet, James, out with her when the neighbour's dog jumped the fence and ran towards them.

She said it is the second time her daughter had been hurt by the dog, which she described as a pit bull, and she believed a serious injury could be on the horizon.

“It's not a matter of if, but when it's going to lash,” she said.

“It's always out roaming the street, and it jumped the fence one day and had a go at a guy on a bike.”

Mrs Squires said her children were terrified and would not go out to the car in the mornings, as were other residents on the street.

The Morning Bulletin spoke to residents in the street who backed up her concerns.

One said many children played in the street and was concerned about the chance of an attack.

Mrs Squires said she was normally against putting dogs down.

However, she said it might be necessary in this case.

“The kids are scared. They shouldn't have to live in fear,” she said.

The council has confirmed a statutory declaration regarding an alleged attack on another animal has been received and council officers are investigating the matter in accordance with normal procedures.

The council was not able to give a figure of the number of dog attacks in the region for this year or last.

A spokesman said this information would be available soon.