Dog attack in Shepparton ends in tragedy

Prosecutor Simon Pogue told the court the woman had been walking her female Staffordshire bull terrier on a walking track along the Broken River in south Shepparton on April 13 last year when it attacked the greyhound.

Mr Pogue said the dog was off its lead when it attacked the 11-year-old greyhound, biting it on the head and neck and “shaking it violently”.

The greyhound received multiple puncture wounds, a broken jaw and extensive muscle damage and blood loss in the attack and had to be euthanased by the vet four days later.

The Staffordshire bull terrier was surrendered to authorities and was also euthanased after the attack.

Mr Pogue said the dog had previously been declared as a “menacing dog” by a different council in 2021, and as such had to be on a lead and wear a muzzle.

He said the greyhound’s death was “entirely preventable” if it had been wearing a muzzle.

Representing herself in court, the woman said her dog had been on a lead while she was walking it, but had “slipped” its lead.

The woman said she had moved to Shepparton from NSW only four months before the attack and had not registered her dog with Greater Shepparton City Council yet.

The woman also told how her dog had been a companion dog, and it had not been easy to give it up.

Visibly emotional in court, the woman also gave the magistrate a letter of remorse, where she apologised to the greyhound’s owner for the distress the attack had caused and the loss of their dog.

“The whole thing has scarred me,” she said.

The court also heard the woman had no prior convictions.

Magistrate Mark Sabljak placed the woman on an adjourned undertaking to be of good behaviour for 12 months, and no conviction was recorded.

She was also ordered to pay the $6933 vet fee incurred by the owner of the greyhound.

She must also pay $1500 in council’s legal fees, and $144 in court costs.