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Man wants dogs deemed dangerous after attack on chickens

Pia van StraalenCanning Gazette

A ST JAMES man says he is disappointed that the City of Canning has decided not to officially classify as dangerous two dogs that he says escaped from their yard and mauled his chickens.

Adrian, who did not want his surname published, said he has been having ongoing problems with the dogs – a kelpie and mastiff cross – that regularly escape their block and wander throughout neighbours’ yards.

Last month, Adrian said the dogs entered his yard about 6:30am and attacked his chickens, injuring three and killing one.

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The ratepayer, who witnessed the mauling, reported the incident to the City of Canning, which did not remove the dogs and would not comment to the Canning Times on the course of action taken.

“The City has completed an investigation into the alleged incident and is currently reviewing an appropriate course of action,” a City spokeswoman said.

The resident said the attack happened after the City had installed a trailer fitted with CCTV to monitor the dogs.

However, the mauling incident on January 6 was not recorded because the City had removed the batteries from the camera to recharge them.

A spokeswoman from the City of Canning confirmed the timeline.

“After receiving a complaint by a ratepayer the City installed a CCTV camera on a trailer to see if video of an offence could be recorded,” she said.

“The trailer was fitted and tested by the City on 17 December 2016 and placed in view of the supplied address.

“It was re-fitted and tested again after the City took the camera offline to charge the batteries from 30 December 2016 to 2 January 2017…It was then fitted and tested again from 10 January – 17 January 2017. All instances when the camera was tested by the City it was in working order,” she said.

Adrian said he felt the City was not taking the incident seriously and called on the council to deem the dogs dangerous under section 33E of the Dog Act.

The act states; A local government (can) …declare an individual dog to be a dangerous dog (declared) if, in the opinion of the local government or that person — the dog has caused injury or damage by an attack on, or chasing, a person, animal or vehicle.

“These dogs are a risk to the area. They have shown they have a propensity to attack and I would hate to think what would happen six months down the track when a child is mauled,” Adrian said.

The dogs were later impounded after they were found roaming the streets, but were returned to their owner.

“It is ridiculous to think the council waited for the dogs to commit further offences before impounding them,” Adrian said.

“They are an accountable agency and they are treating the public as though they are uneducated… I want the City of Canning to take the matter seriously.”

The City spokeswoman disputed the dogs in question were known for roaming the streets.

“The address in question does not have a record with the City of being notorious for escaping dogs,” she said.