Alpacas killing: owner furious

By Melissa Meehan
THE owner of three alpacas killed in a bloody dog attack has slammed the Cardinia Shire Council for not acting on complaints earlier.
Nicole Whiting from Officer said she and her neighbours had made numerous complaints about the dogs, but all they had done was issue fines.
“In some ways, the council has its hands tied,” she said.
“But if someone has outstanding fines because their dogs keep getting out, surely there has to be something that they can do to take the dogs away before a killing.”
Ms Whiting said she woke up on Wednesday morning and looked out her window to find two bull mastiff cross-breed dogs attacking the third alpaca they killed on her property.
She said the dogs had been on her property on the Saturday, but were chased away by her husband and son.
“Our neighbours said they belonged to a property in May Road, so my husband went around there and said they needed to keep the dogs locked up,” she said.
“We were away on Saturday night, one of our neighbours had lodged a complaint; Tuesday another neighbour complained and then I found our alpacas dead on Wednesday morning.”
Not only were Ms Whiting’s alpacas killed, but a pregnant cow on her property lost her calf because of stress.
“She had bite marks on her belly,” she said.
“It’s just so devastating – it’s ridiculous that the council didn’t have the power to do more.”
Cardinia’s compliance services manager Alan Giachin said the council was currently dealing with the matter and is taking appropriate action.
“Dog owners must take responsibility of their dog, whether it is declared dangerous or not,” he said.
“To report a dog attack, residents should contact the council on 1300 787 624 as soon as possible to have a compliance officer attend. They will take a statement from the resident and any witnesses who may have been present.
“If the dog or dogs have caused damage to an animal or a person, then photographs will also be taken as evidence.”