The two dogs that attacked a three-year-old girl in Hazelbrook on July 6 have been euthanised.
A Blue Mountains City Council spokeswoman said the two Rottweilers were put down at Katoomba RSPCA Shelter on Friday morning (July 14) after the owner surrendered them to the council on Thursday afternoon.
Last Friday the council had issued the dogs’ owner with a “notice of intention to declare the dogs as dangerous under the Companion Animals Act”. The owner was required to meet strict requirements if the dogs were to return home from the RSPCA, including: erecting a secure enclosure on the property, prominently displaying dangerous dog warning signs at the property, and the dogs must wear a muzzle and be securely leashed at all times when outside the enclosure.
In response to this notice, the owner surrendered the dogs on July 13.
The girl was in the backyard of her grandmother’s Hazelbrook home on July 6 when she was bitten by the family’s two Rottweilers.
She sustained serious facial injuries and numerous bite marks across her body.
She was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a serious but stable condition.
“This incident was heartbreaking. My thoughts and prayers remain with little Avah and her family. I wish her the best possible recovery,” said Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill.
Prior to the July 6 attack, the council had received reports in the past six weeks relating to dogs, of a similar description, roaming the streets in Hazelbrook, which were investigated by council rangers, the spokeswoman said.
“Formal enforcement action was not taken at the time due to the lack of sufficient evidence. The owner was advised of the allegations and cautioned that failure to prevent their dogs from roaming, or being aggressive, could result in legal action,” she said.
