Perth family’s distress after beloved pet was ‘strangled’ when rangers called to retrieve escaped dog
A family dog died after rangers tried to restrain the loose puppy before their equipment failed and strangled the dog to death.
City of Perth rangers were called to an address in Kensington after locals reported an unregistered and ‘unpredictable’ Staffordshire bull terrier wandering alone on September 19.
The staffie, named Snowflake, had escaped from the owner’s garden and was wandering the street, which a neighbor said was not unusual.
When the dog was approached by park rangers, it became aggressive and had to be retrained, City CEO Mike Bradford said.
Once Snowflake arrived at a care facility, the safety pole rangers that had been restraining the dog were broken and could not be removed from his neck.
Snowflake (not pictured), a family-loved Staffordshire bull terrier cross, died after animal control officers restrained him but were then unable to remove their trap post (stock image)
Perth City CEO Mike Bradford said the use of a catch post was necessary because the dog had reacted aggressively to park rangers, but he expressed his condolences over the death (stock image)
Mr Bradford expressed his condolences to Snowflake’s family but denied there was any wrongdoing in the way the rangers handled the situation.
“Rangers had to use a catch pole to restrain the dog,” he said in a statement.
“The city has also revised its procedures and processes to ensure the integrity of all equipment used by the city’s park rangers.”
The dog’s owners were not home when park rangers captured him Snowflake was taken to an animal shelter in Como.
Once there, they tried to remove the safety pole with bolt cutters without success.
“Despite several attempts, the cord around the animal could not be loosened,” said Bradford.
Snowflake was rushed to Murdoch vets where the cause of death was determined suffocation.
The City of Perth has since paid for the dog’s cremation.
RSPCA WA confirmed a cruelty complaint had been made in relation to the incident and they were investigating.
John Jarvien, a neighbor of Snowflake’s family, told Perthnow that the dog had been bought for their seven-year-old daughter, but that it had occasionally escaped.
After Snowflake was taken to an animal shelter, rangers led him to an animal pen where they attempted to remove the trapping post.
Rangers had attempted to use bolt cutters to remove the safety pole after it failed but were unable to do so before rushing it to Murdoch vets (pictured)
Hospitals in Perth treated more than four dog bites a day in 2023 and reports say the resulting injuries have only gotten worse.
Recent data from WA Health and the infamous case of Nikita Piil, who was mauled by her own Rottweilers, has led some to call for new regulations on dangerous breeds.
The number of dog bite victims presenting to emergency rooms in the state has increased from 1,243 in 2018 to 1,508 in 2023, an increase of 21 percent.
There is no suggestion that Snowflake bit anyone.