'The next person might be dead': Community to the rescue following Dawesville dog attack

Four-year-old border collie Knox had emergency surgery and faces further operations after he was "pinned down and ripped into" by a big dog in Dawesville on his walk with owner, Bev Harris.

It was a combined community effort to intercept the horrific attack on Illuka Road on Thursday and it's been more joint action to keep Knox alive.

Two tradies on a building site buckled their shovels trying to keep the dog off after they heard Ms Harris' cries of help. Another woman who came to help was bitten between the thumb and the index finger.

"I thought we were both going to die," Ms Harris said.

"The dog ripped into Knox' spine, he had a terrifying look in his eyes and there was no way he was going to let go."

She herself needed 12 stitches after the dog, understood to be an American staffy, bit into the shin and calf of her left leg.

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"The doctor said I was lucky he bit hard and let go, not pulled, otherwise I would have lost all of the muscles in my leg. That's how serious it was."

The owner of the dog is understood to have arrived at the scene, grabbed the American staffy, bundled it up and taken off.

Ms Harris' terror was prolonged knowing she couldn't afford to pay for surgery and faced having to euthanise Knox.

But community spirit shone as the local Falcon Vet reduced the bill and Dawesville residents set up a GoFundMe page to raise close to $1500 for Knox' vet bills.

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Knox faced a second operation yesterday and Ms Harris still has regular doctor visits.

"We're still having nightmares, both of us - he is lucky to be alive," Ms Harris said yesterday.

"He is an absolute mess now. I don't want Knox to have to meet anything like that ever again.

"The public need to know what is out there. I'm thinking of people's safety with this dog being loose.

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"All he needs is one more slip up and the next person might be dead. What if I had been a child?"

She is calling on the City of Mandurah to take action. Rangers are investigating.

A City spokesperson said preventing dog attacks required responsible dog owners but also support from the community to advise rangers if they see dogs wandering or not properly controlled.

"Almost all dog attacks that occur are as a result of a dog having escaped their property or being off-lead in an area they shouldn't be," the spokesperson said.

"The City is continuing to educate owners on their responsibilities, and the risks that come with not being vigilant about controlling their dog.

"The impact of a dog attack is often severe and long-lasting for the victim, but also for the attacking dog and the owner as this could include vet bills or their animal being euthanised."

In the last 12 months the City has issued 458 infringements for dogs wandering, 72 infringements for dog attacks causing injury, and 11 people have been prosecuted in court, demonstrating that there are serious penalties relating to dog attacks.

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