Three dogs that mauled a 90-year-old woman to death had escaped and attacked another person a week earlier, and the council’s initial response was inadequate, a coroner has found.
Ada ‘Sally’ Holland died from her injuries after three dogs escaped from a property and attacked her at Collingwood Beach, about 200 kilometers south of Sydney, on March 29, 2020.
The week before Mrs Holland’s death the court was told that the three dogs had previously been reported to Shoalhaven Council after they escaped from the same property and attacked another person.
Ada ‘Sally’ Holland (right) died from her injuries after three dogs escaped from a property and mauled her at Collingwood Beach, about 200km south of Sydney, on March 29, 2020.
The week before Ms Holland’s death a court was told the dogs had previously escaped from the same property and attacked another person (one of the dogs pictured).
Coroner Carmel Forbes told the NSW Coroner’s Court the response to the attack which occurred a week before the fatal attack was “inadequate”.
“It was a real missed opportunity for the council to prevent the attack a week later,” he said on Friday.
“At the very least, the council should have ensured that the dogs were secured in the yard.”
The owners of the three dogs had already been visited by the rangers before the attack, for failing to register the three dogs.
In its findings, Forbes noted that the council had implemented changes since Holland’s death.
“The Council has applied a zero-tolerance policy on non-compliance with registration,” Ms Forbes told the court.
The owners of the three dogs were fined just $10,000 for their negligence in failing to properly secure their dogs on their property, resulting in Mrs Holland’s death.
Coroner Carmel Forbes told the NSW Coroner’s Court the response to a dog attack that occurred a week before the fatal attack was “inappropriate”.
Ms Forbes set out her recommendations to both the local council and the Local Government Office with the aim of preventing another vicious dog attack.
“Firstly, to the chief executive of Shoalhaven Borough Council, the council will review its procedures and the training of rangers who respond to reports of dogs leaving their garden or attacking,” Ms Forbes told the court.
It recommended that the council design and implement a new training program for game wardens who respond to calls about dangerous dogs.
Ms Forbes recommended that the Local Government Office consider implementing a public awareness campaign about the dangers posed by specific breeds of dogs.
In its recommendations, Forbes also noted the lack of sanctions imposed on owners who fail to protect their dogs and then attack a member of the public.
“The Local Government Office needs to assess the appropriateness of the legal conditions relating to the maximum sentence,” the court heard.
John Holland, Mrs Holland’s third child, said that while the coroner’s recommendations were welcome, they would not bring his mother back.
“You can’t get it out of your system… the tragic nature of his cruelty, the whole setting, the facts behind it, you just say this happens on television, it doesn’t happen to your family,” Mr Holland told the AAP.
