Shirley Viti.
Camera IconShirley Viti. Credit: Supplied/Bruce Hunt www.communitypix.com.au d487887

Coodanup grandmother grieves for little dogs killed in separate dog attacks

Vanessa SchmittMandurah Coastal Times

COODANUP grandmother Shirley Viti has been grieving for her pet chihuahuas that were killed in separate dog attacks.

She said she had been “crying for her little dogs” and was very “cut up.”

Ms Viti had had her male dog Percy for 10 years and her female dog Brandy for about four years.

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Percy was attacked by a dog next door after a fence was damaged during a storm earlier this year.

Shirley Viti had Percy for 10 years.
Camera IconShirley Viti had Percy for 10 years. Credit: Supplied/Vanessa Schmitt

The same dog attacked Brandy on September 29 out the front of Ms Viti’s yard.

City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said it was a traumatic incident.

“Our thoughts and sympathy are with Shirley Viti and her family,” he said.

“The City of Mandurah assesses each dog attack on a case by case basis, taking into consideration a range of factors in relation to the fines and potential destruction of the animal.

“It is not the City’s preferred position to automatically seek the destruction of the dog involved, often the owners will surrender their pets for euthanisation.”

Mr Newman said the offending dog had no history at the time of the initial attack and the owner was fined $600.

“Tragically the dog was able to re-enter the neighbour’s property again and attack and kill a second dog,” he said.

“The offending dog was surrendered immediately and euthanised, the owner was fined a further $600.”

Mr Newman said while repeat attacks were rare, it was clear some dog owners were failing to understand the consequences of not taking responsibility for their animal.

“With this in mind the City is reviewing its approach to our enforcement response to attacks, with a view to tougher action in the future,” he said.

“This will include owners who have failed to contain their dogs in accordance with the Dogs Local Law 2010, which specifies the requirements for keeping dogs at properties in the district.”