Dog attack: why euthanasing is the only logical conclusion

MORE: Bull mastiff responsible for death of Southern River woman to be euthanased

OPINION: First, a bit about myself.

I’m the kind of guy who will take 10 minutes trying to shoo a fly out the door, rather than use Mortein.

My heart sinks when I hear a snail crunch under my foot.

The day I had to put my dog down I cried a river.

But that doesn’t mean I think the bull mastiff cross that inflicted fatal injuries on Southern River mother Sue Lopicich should stay alive.

If comments on Community Newspapers’ Facebook accounts are any indication, many people are in uproar about the City of Gosnells’ decision to euthanase the dog.

It’s easy to underestimate the fervour of animal lovers. They are rabid in their devotion to life forms other than human.

But how can an animal which could weigh between 45 and 60kg, and has ended the life of a woman, be allowed to circulate?

What kind of steps could be taken to ensure he doesn’t transgress again?

If he’s proven to be beyond help, what kind of life would it be for him to be cooped up in a cage for the rest of his days?

The tragic irony in all this is that Ms Lopicich was an animal lover.

She was killed by a deeply troubled dog, one so aggressive rangers needed to use a second dog to help lure it out of the Southern River property.

Without being across all the information, it appears a dog so damaged – perhaps by trauma, poor training, anxiety – as to be beyond help.

Ending his life is the only logical solution.