Ballajura cat owners count cost after dog attacks

At least 23 cats have been fatally mauled in Ballajura in the past three months, many attacked on their own property.

The issue had City of Swan and contracted security officers conducting patrols in the Ballajura area.

Police and City of Swan seized three dogs from properties in Stratton and Ballajura on December 4 but the attacks continued.

“It was always our view that it was not just the dogs seized but there other dogs involved as well,” Swan chief executive Mike Foley said.

“There’s a very wide degree of dog descriptions being brought to us at this stage so we’re still collecting information.”

The attacks stopped early last week after the issue attracted extensive media coverage. The City is considering setting up dog traps in Ballajura and will continue to monitor the area for suspicious vehicles and dogs.

Swan chief executive Mike Foley said the attacks appeared organised – occurring at night and targeting people’s pets.

“It appears to be some sort of systematic issue in the area where people are perhaps bringing dogs into the area and letting them loose,” he said.

Ballajura residents set up a Facebook page called Lost Fur Babies to Vicious Dog Attacks in Ballajura in tribute to pets lost.

The page shows the extent of grieving in the Ballajura community, and the financial burden faced by owners who are paying up to $10,000 in vet fees.

Tracy Leinasars lost her cat Tails on November 29.

She said her neighbours found Tails in their driveway and told her their cat had also been mauled to death three months prior.

“Tails’ jugular was just ripped apart,” Ms Leinasars said.

“I’ve since contacted the ranger about it and set up the (Facebook) page but the problem is just escalating.

“It could be a child next or an old person – we don’t know exactly how much more vicious they could be.”

Ms Leinasars said there was a general feeling of outrage in the community and she was worried people might take matters into their own hands.

“I don’t blame the dogs at all, it’s the owners.”

In the last financial year, Ballajura had 43 recorded dog attacks and that figure has already been surpassed for the first half of the current financial year.

Owners can be fined up to $10,000 for dog offences.