After a wave of attacks in the Peel region recently, two more dog owners were fined in the Mandurah Magistrates Court on Tuesday for separate offences involving dog attacks.
The Mandurah Mail has recently highlighted the prevalence of the issue, after more than 1000 attacks were recorded in the City of Mandurah over five years.
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A Coolup woman was fined $1200 in court on Tuesday after her three dogs attacked and killed a kangaroo.
Belinda Elisabeth Parry pleaded guilty to not having the dogs on a leash in a public place and to the attack on the animal.
Shire of Murray prosecutor Ron Porter told the court Parry’s dogs were not on a lead during a walk at the railway reserve, adjacent to the South Western Highway in Coolup, in the early afternoon of September 16, 2018.
Mr Porter said the dogs started barking at a kangaroo when Parry disembarked from her horse to call the dogs away.
They dragged the kangaroo to the ground and started to bite it.
Parry rode the horse back to her home to get help from her son but by the time the pair drove back to the scene, the kangaroo was dead.
Parry, who represented herself in court, said she “couldn’t just leave [the kangaroo] there”.
“The dogs did the deed and I take full responsibility,” she said.
“I have not taken my dogs out with me since and I will not.”
Magistrate Anne Longden said the case was “disturbing”.
“The facts are rather upsetting to hear,” she said.
“You do accept the facts… and you did return to the scene with your son to help.”
Parry was fined $1200 and ordered to pay $205.30 in court costs.
A man was also fined on Tuesday after his dog ‘Jasper’ attacked a cyclist.
Rodney David Forster pleaded guilty to not having Jasper on a leash in a public place and to the dog attack.
Mr Porter told the court Forster was walking his dog with his 12-year-old grandson in South Yunderup at 3.30pm on September 3, 2018, when the attack occurred.
He said Jasper ran after a woman on a bike, jumped up and ripped her pants, causing two puncture marks in her leg, which had to be treated.
“She screamed and yelled at him to get his dog,” Mr Porter said.
Forster, who represented himself in court, said he thought he was walking his dog in an “isolated area” and said he still walks his dog in the area but does so on a leash.
“I was unaware of the shire rules at the time,” he said.
Magistrate Longden said Forster needed to take responsibility.
“She was going about her business and you should’ve had your dog under control,” she said.
“She’s the one who suffered the consequences.”
Forster was fined $1500 and $205.30 in court costs.
