Dog attack: 14-month-old toddler dies after being mauled at Victoria property

A 14-month-old girl has died after being bit on the face in a horrific dog attack in Neerim Junction, Victoria, on Thursday.

Emergency services were called to the property at around 6.20am and police have now confirmed the toddler died at the scene. According to an official police report, it’s believed she was attacked by a German Wirehaired Pointer. The dog has since been seized by the local council.

Police are now investigating the attack and the coroner will be notified of any findings.

Breaking news: A little girl has been mauled by a dog at Neerim, East of Melbourne. #sun7 pic.twitter.com/u3nHxsgBuX

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 1, 2018

It’s the latest tragic death following a spate of horrific attacks just months ago, leading to a debate over harsher fines for dangerous dog owners.

Twelve-month-old Kamillah Jones was killed by a rottweiler in March this year, while she was being pushed around in a pram by her mum in a street in Inverell, northern NSW. The incident was investigated by police, but no-one was reportedly charged at the time.

Read more: Dangerous dog owners ‘could face harsher fines’ after spate of attacks

Just a day later, a 10-year-old Melbourne girl was rescued by her neighbour Jimmy Baird after being viciously attacked by what is believed to be a Bullmastiff, while her parents were out. He told 3AW of the rescue at the time: “It was out of control, the dog was going berserk. We distracted the dog while we got the girl out.”

The child suffered serious injuries, and was treated in the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The dog was later put down.

Currently, laws vary between states. Brisbane City Council declares a dog dangerous if it “has seriously attacked a person or another animal, has acted in a way that caused fear to a person or another animal or was declared dangerous by another local government”.

Read more: Debate over dangerous dog penalties as baby killed and child attacked

In QLD, a dog that is declared restricted or menacing must wear a disc specifying so around its collar, while the owner must put up warning sign by the entrance to their property. The dog must “always be muzzled and on leash when in public and handled by a capable adult”, and “confined in an enclosure that complies with set regulations”.

Once declared dangerous, the council says “you will be given certain conditions to follow,” which may vary from case to case.

According to government figures, there were 1,196 dog attacks reported to NSW local councils from July-September 2017. 

Do you think there should he harsher punishments for dangerous dog owners?