Cattle dog attacks girl at home

POLICE and paramedics rushed to Bundamba on Saturday afternoon after a family pet attacked a young girl.

The girl suffered a cut to her lip and was taken by ambulance with her mother to Ipswich Hospital about 2.15pm.

Ipswich police Sergeant Eric Smith said the family’s blue heeler had bitten the nine-year-old girl on the lip and police believed she was playing with the animal before the attack.

The girl received treatment in hospital on Saturday afternoon but her injuries were not life-threatening.

Ipswich City Council employees went to the Bognuda Street home and spoke to girl’s parents.

Health and Regulation Committee chairman Councillor Andrew Antoniolli said the incident highlighted the importance of parents to supervise their children around dogs.

“A good percentage of the dog attacks that we’ve been seeing lately are attacks that are occurring within the dog property,” Cr Antoniolli said.

“It just indicates that at all times you must ensure that you’re vigilant with children and dogs.”

Cr Antoniolli said that as a parent he regularly reminded his children about how to behave around the family’s pet dog.

“When friends and relatives visit, dogs can be confused and overwhelmed by all this attention from young children,” he said.

“I think that children, generally speaking, aren’t aware that sometimes their behaviour can excite, confuse and overwhelm a dog.

“When a dog is confused or feels that he’s being challenged by someone he’ll act accordingly.

“You’ve really got to watch children around dogs.”

Cr Antoniolli said the fact the dog was a blue heeler rather than a more notorious breed showed that many dogs reacted similarly when placed in an exciting or threatening situation.