Paramedic puts down pit bull terrier after it attacked man and killed his dog yesterday
UPDATE 12.08pm: A PARAMEDIC had to use medical supplies to put down a pit bull after it locked its jaws around a man's arm during a horrifying attack yesterday.
The 30-year-old Reservoir man was walking his two small dogs on Arundel St, Reservoir, about 7.20pm last night when he and his dogs were attacked by an American Pit Bull.
The pit bull killed one of the small dogs before attacking the other. When the owner attempted to his help his pets, the pit bull bit latched onto his arm.
Chat live with RSPCA Victoria president Dr Hugh Wirth on the issue NOW
Intensive care paramedic Robert Voss said he couldn't believe what he witnessed. Two policemen were trying to restrain the dog and free the injured man's hand when Mr Voss arrived.
Usually that fear and terror you see after a major disaster,'' Mr Voss told ABC Radio.
Mr Voss' immediate reaction was to ask the police officers how he could help.
"They said they had called the ranger to come and euthanase the dog,'' he said.
"I said that we could assist with that. As a last resort, we euthanased the dog for them.
"We used some sedation and then some paralysing agents.''
He said even then everyone was still "scared and frightened''.
"I've got to say all the gentlemen were reluctant to get off the dog, even though the dog was deceased, they were a bit apprehensive because they thought the dog was going to come back again,'' Mr Voss said.
He said the police were loath to fire their weapons at the dog.
"They were going to euthanase the dog with one of their firearms but unfortunately, it was too dangerous to do so,'' he said.
"There were people there, the bullet could have ricocheted and hit somebody.
"It was a frenzied attack. You probably couldn't have got a clear shot anyway.''
Yesterday's attack has renewed calls for American pit bulls to be banned in Australia.
RSPCA Victoria president Dr Hugh Wirth said the dogs were a menace and were not suitable as pets for anyone.
"They are time bombs waiting for the right circumstances,'' Dr Wirth said.
"The American pit bull terrier is lethal because it was a breed that was developed purely for dog fighting, in other words killing the opposition.
"They should never have been allowed into the country. They are an absolute menace.
Dr Wirth said local councils were not doing enough to enforce strict laws on pit bull terriers.
Restrictions for owners include confining the dogs to their property, ensuring the property is escape-proof, while a signpost warning of the dog's existence must be displayed outside the property.
The dog must also be desexed, with the RSPCA hopeful this will eventually wipe out the breed.
"While the dog breed is allowed to remain in the country, unless the law is strictly enforced, we are going to see more and more and more of these attacks,'' Dr Wirth said.
"Local government has got to spend some money going around identifying these dogs and forcing the issue.''
Sen-Constable Julie-Anne Newman said police and ambulance officers were not able to release the man from the dog's grasp for at least 20 minutes.
"The sergeant at the scene said there was a lot of children playing on the street at the time of the attack so it could have been a lot worse,'' Sen-Constable Newman said.
"A dog left to roam the streets is a concern and we are looking into how the dog came to be by itself.''
"The attack was awfully frightening for the the man involved and quite an upsetting ordeal.''
Since 2005, three Victorians have been fatally mauled by dogs and another 1445 were admitted to hospital.
Earlier this year a toddler was scared for her life after she was mauled by a pit bull a home in Melbourne's west.
The owner of the pitbull involved in last night's attack attended the scene and assisted police with their investigation.
The victim was taken to the Northern Hospital with lacerations.
It is believed yesterday's attack is not the first one carried out by the dog. A caller to 3AW said she believed the same dog was responsible for an attack on her cat yesterday afternoon.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/pit-bull-attacks-man-kills-dog/story-e6frf7jo-1225788097621
