Savaged by dogs

[Global Paw]

WHEN a pack of five large dogs jumped from the back of a utility on Saturday and attacked Brodie Hartin, 13, he hung on to a fence screaming for help while punching one dog in the head as it tried to savage his face.

"I knew I had to hang on because if I fell to the ground and they got on top of me I wouldn't have a chance," he said.

Brodie was delivering brochures in March Street between Lords Place and Anson Street on Saturday morning when the pack of dogs jumped from the back of a white utility-type vehicle parked across the footpath in the driveway of a house.

The boy's mother Karen Hartin said when her son first took over the delivery run in January she and her husband Peter supervised their son.

"But it was Saturday in the middle of the day and you would think he would be safe," she said.

Mrs Hartin is calling for stricter controls over dog ownership within the city limits, in the face of what she says could have been a fatal attack on her son.

"Those dogs should be put down - there is no place for that many or that type of dog in town," she said.

Brodie says the words of advice from his mum and dad when he first started the round must have stuck in his mind.

"Mum and dad said if a dog ever did come at me I should stay still. I tried to do that and hang on to the fence, but when they started biting me on the legs, and one went for my head I started screaming for someone to help me," he said.

Mrs Hartin said Brodie and the family would like to thank a passer-by who stopped his car and helped fight the dogs off before the owner came and took the dogs into his yard.

"Unfortunately we haven't been able to catch up with the man who helped Brodie but we would like to thank him - a couple more minutes and it might have been too late," she said.

His mother believes the clear thinking of her son, who is a talented motorcycle rider, saved him from more serious injury. "Thank goodness he didn't panic."

Brodie said he had seen and heard the dogs on previous occasions while delivering

pamphlets in the street. "But they were always behind this high fence, always barking, but they couldn't get out."

When Brodie was several metres away from the vehicle containing the five untethered dogs on the back, he decided to give it a wide berth. "I decided to cross the road out of the way when the first dog jumped off and came at me and the others followed. So I stepped back and hung on to the fence."

Council rangers and police are investigating the attack.

[boxerlover]

I think some consequences should be in order for this dog owner....obvioulst his dogs pose a threat to public safety! No matter what type if fence you have, any dog will get out at some time or another!

[Pugdawg1]

Those dogs do that once.. they'll do it again. Irresponsible owner!

[Pinscher Mum]

Can anyone explain to me WHY this owner had the FIVE dogs out front of the house and not behind the fence, grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

1. NO dogs should be left unleashed in the public

2. NO dogs should be left out front unattended.

This so called owner should face some harsh punishment, maybe they will learn what being a responsible owner is then.

And what an amazing 13 year old Brodie is. He really should be commended for keeping his calm, l dont know many adults who could keep their calm if 5 dogs where attacking them.