Dogs kill pet goat

By Paul Pickering
A BELGRAVE HEIGHTS man is demanding that his neighbours take responsibility for their dogs after his 20-year-old goat was mauled to death.
Ralph Wilson says that the goat – “harmless, defenceless and crippled with arthritis” – was set upon by the dogs on the morning of Wednesday, 30 May.
“They had her on the ground near where she feeds, tore off her ears and bit her face,” he recounted.
“She called out somewhat piteously, but it was too late.”
Mr Wilson says that he saw the dogs fleeing the property after the attack, and was able to identify them as a black Rottweiler and a white Jack Russell terrier – from separate neighbouring properties – and a black cattle dog belonging to an unknown owner.
Having approached the neighbours in question, Mr Wilson said that they would not accept responsibility for the incident.
“They could not believe that their beloved pooches could commit such a heinous crime,” he said.
Mr Wilson said that dog owners should not be surprised by the natural instincts of their pets.
“Dogs are hunters descended from hunting packs eons ago,” he said.
“It’s never the dog’s fault, it’s the owner’s fault.”
Mr Wilson did not contact shire rangers after the incident because he says he had previously been told that nothing could be done unless he had captured the offending animal.
While the Shire of Yarra Ranges’ community relations manager James Martin could not speculate as to advice previously given to Mr Wilson, he said that the burden of responsibility for such attacks was firmly on the animal owners.
“We have a very low tolerance on dog attacks and the onus is very much on the owner to make sure their animal is properly confined to the property,” he said.
“Inadequate fences are no excuse.”
While Mr Martin noted that any investigation would have to follow a formal complaint to the shire, he could sympathise with Mr Wilson’s situation.
“He has every right to have an animal on his property.
“The animal should not be threatened and he should not feel threatened.”
Mr Martin was keen to note that the shire had successfully prosecuted 11 cases of dog attacks already this year, with fines up to $7000 being given and, in some cases, animals being destroyed.
Having been informed of the shire’s response, Mr Wilson has vowed to lodge a formal complaint against his neighbours.