St Marys North dog attack: Blood-curdling screams as pitbull turns on mother and 15yo boy and cops fire pepper spray at their other dangerous dogs – as expert reveals why such attacks are increasing
EXCLUSIVE
A mother and her teenage son were brutally mauled after one of the family’s six American pit bull terriers escaped from their property in Sydney’s west.
Blood-curdling screams were heard in the suburb of St Marys on Monday when mother Kim and her teenage boy were attacked by the stepfather’s prized pit bull terrier, Luna, around 11am.
Daily Mail Australia witnessed the teenager screaming for help after the stocky dog sank its razor-sharp teeth into his left arm.
The teen, with blood streaming down his forearm, fled the wild dog and sought help at a neighbor’s house.
It is the latest in a wave of brutal dog attacks across the country, which leading animal behaviourist and veterinarian Kate Lindsey says are caused by ‘poor breeding practices’ that leave larger dogs in chronic pain.
The mother of a 15-year-old who was attacked by their American pit bull terrier was caught in the crossfire
The 15-year-old (photo right) suffered deep wounds to his forearm during the attack
Police who attended the property were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue the dog that attacked the boy and mother
Within minutes of the attack, police cars rushed to the house, which has a dog kennel in addition to piles of trash out front.
The 40-year-old mother emerged from her home with deep bite and scratch marks on her stomach and back.
The pair were treated for their injuries at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics who wrapped the mother and son’s arms in bandages and took them to hospital.
Police had to climb through an open window of the house and separate the excited dogs with capsicum spray.
Eldest sister Tahna said this is not the first time Luna had attacked a family member – adding that the family at one point owned eight pit bulls.
“She bit me here (gesturing to her left breast) and on my back,” Tahna, 18, told Daily Mail Australia.
“Maybe now that (Mom) has been bitten, she will put Luna to sleep.”
Tahna added that the family had recently lost two dogs that were seized after they ran away.
The RSPCA arrived at the house at 12.20pm where officers were able to speak to the dog owner as he smoked cigarettes on the pavement.
The inspectors left the building without removing any animals.
Nearby Chifley College Dunheved was placed on lockdown until the dog was collected and placed in an enclosed area.
The vicious pit bull terrier attacked after escaping from his rickety doghouse in the front yard
Another of the six dogs living on the property escaped shortly before the owner could lead the dog into the house
RSPCA inspectors visited the Maple Road property but did not remove any of the owner’s six dogs
Police gather at the scene where an escaped pit bull terrier brutally bit a mother and her son
Dr. Lindsey told Daily Mail Australia that poor breeding practices in large dog breeds often cause chronic pain, which is what causes the aggressive behavior that makes headlines.
“I guarantee you that these dogs will have a history of anxiety or physical health problems,” she said.
‘Pain is the leading cause of anxiety, especially aggressive behavior in large breed dogs.
‘In my experience treating 15,600 dogs with anxiety and aggression, the majority of large breed dogs exhibiting aggression have an underlying health condition that has not been treated.
“In all cases, the problem is resolved when the dog gets relief from pain and anxiety.”
Earlier on Monday, a man had to fight for his life. He was attacked by two Rottweilers in a vicious attack that also killed a cat in Sydney’s south-west.
Emergency services were called to a house on George Road in Leppington, in Sydney’s south-west, about 7.30am on Monday.
A man in his 50s was walking when he was suddenly attacked by the dogs that had escaped from a private property.
The victim was left with bite wounds to his head, neck, arm and leg, while a cat in a neighboring house was reportedly killed by the dogs.
On Saturday afternoon, Perth woman Nikita Piil, 31, had to undergo emergency surgery to save her arm after Bronx and Harlem rottweilers began mauling her at her home in the southern suburb of Success.
Shocked neighbors tried to distract the dogs, but it wasn’t until a police officer was forced to shoot one of the animals that the destruction stopped.
The shot animal had to be put down later.
Last Friday, an Adelaide man and his sister suffered serious injuries requiring surgery when their family dog, a Sharpei-Pitbull cross named Caliche, began attacking them during an argument at a Brompton home on Tuesday.
Clifford Newchurch, 42, was visiting family when the dog suddenly lunged at him in a vicious attack, latching onto his hand and tearing at the flesh with its teeth.
Perth woman Nikita Piil was mauled by her Rottweilers on Saturday, forcing police to shoot one of the animals to stop the destruction
After the family managed to distract the animal by pouring boiling water on it, the dog targeted Mr Newchurch’s sister Stella, 39.
After prying the dog free, the female family members locked him in a bedroom as the family fought to keep the door closed as the powerful dog tore at the wood.
The dog, which has been a pet for eight years, will likely be put down.
said Dr. Lindsey there was no such thing as an ‘aggressive breed’, only aggressive individual animals reacting to what they saw as the causes of their suffering.
“A dog is aggressive for a reason, there always has to be a threat,” Dr. Lindsay said.
‘Sometimes that threat is internal, they feel sick and that dog uses aggressive behavior to feel safe.
‘Or do they just feel pain and think what’s causing the pain?
‘It must be that person or that person, until they started petting me I felt no pain.
“Rottweilers can be the sweetest, loving dogs when they’re not in pain.”
Leading Perth animal behaviourist and veterinarian Kate Lindsey blames dodgy breeders for producing animals with defects that lead to aggressive behavior
She said dodgy backyard breeders of rottweilers and pit bulls were producing dogs with multiple diseases and treatments sometimes only made the behavior worse.
‘As a result of poor culture, the majority of rotties have chronic pain greater than two in the form of degenerative joint disease,’ said Dr Lindsay.
‘Pit bulls have lists of hereditary diseases, including hip dysplasia, cruciate disease, endocrinopathies and chronic dermatitis.
‘They are often given prednisolone, a steroid that worsens aggressive behavior.’
She said breeders who did not screen for congenital problems but instead “kicked” dogs off the shelf should be held responsible for endangering people.
“None of those breeders have faced consequences for the problems caused by aggression due to the physical problems the dogs were born with.”