The alarming graph that shows why dog owners are being put on notice

The inquest into the death of the five-week-old baby, who was killed in mid-July 2021 on the Central Coast and cannot be identified for legal reasons, is one of seven inquests into fatal dog attacks ranging from 2009 to 2023 in NSW presided over by deputy state coroner Carmel Forbes.

The baby’s father bought the dog involved for $500 as a puppy from an ad on Gumtree in 2015. It was microchipped and registered as an American Staffordshire terrier.

A month before the baby’s death, the six-year-old terrier killed the neighbour’s cocker spaniel, the inquest heard. The dog was not seized as it was unclear whether the cocker spaniel had “trespassed” and entered the family’s yard, limiting enforcement action the council can take.

The baby’s father was required to prove the dog was not a pit bull terrier, a restricted breed in NSW. He was granted a two-week extension to comply after he contacted the council and advised them his wife had recently given birth, which gave him until late July.

Two months before the baby’s death, the Central Coast Council wrote to the NSW premier requesting the list of dangerous dog breeds to include American Staffordshire terriers, which accounted for 25 per cent of dogs registered with the council. The Central Coast local government area has the highest population of dogs in the state, and the highest number of dog attacks, the inquest heard.

Concluding the inquest on Friday, Forbes said the number of dog attacks in the state was concerning, with infants and toddlers particularly at risk.

“I’ve become satisfied that not only have there been a concerning number of dog attacks on people in NSW over the past 15 years, but most of the attacks have been on children in their homes,” she said.

“Infants or children are at greater risk because of their size and vulnerability and potentially because of their behaviour around dogs.”

A 10-year analysis of paediatric admissions from dog bite injuries at Sydney Children’s Hospital from 2010 found that there were 628 child patients during the study period, over half of whom required hospital admission. The average age was 5.69 years, and the most common injuries were injuries to the face, neck and head. A family dog had caused nearly half of all hospital presentations.

Forbes recommended the government consider requiring pet owners to hold a licence, with conditional licences for those seeking to own restricted breeds and safety training for dog owners.

She also suggested the government consider harsher penalties for people who didn’t comply with microchipping and registration requirements, adding that the number of dog attacks was likely much higher than reported.

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Forbes also recommended a public awareness campaign around dog safety, and that the council have stronger powers to seize a dog or require the dog to be muzzled or placed on a lead.

“The regulatory regime as it stands is not effective at minimising the risk of serious fatal dog attacks,” she said.

The Office of Local Government will conduct a review of the Companion Animals Act later this year.

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