Man attacked by his friend’s Akita dog Hachi is cleared of stalking charges
Everything changed for Neal Alexander when he agreed to babysit his friend’s dog at her home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The 46-year-old business owner said he would babysit Wendy Ho’s Akita, named Hachi, provided the dog — who had attacked two strangers years earlier — wore a muzzle.
But a few hours after the start of the pet-sitting service, Mr. Alexander noticed that Hachi was getting agitated and contacted Ms. Ho and asked her to pick up her pet.
Ms. Ho, a 55-year-old optometrist, put her dog in the back of her car and removed the muzzle, but as they drove away, Hachi jumped out of the Land Rover’s rear window and attacked Mr. Alexander.
The attack, which took place in April 2020, left him hospitalized for a week with serious injuries to his arm and back.
Ms. Ho had Hachi put to sleep and was fined $1,320 for owning a dangerous dog.
Neal Alexander (pictured) suffered horrific injuries to his wrist and torso after being mauled by his friend’s dog in April 2020
Mr. Alexander had agreed to babysit the Akita, Hachi, for his girlfriend Wendy Ho. Ms Ho is pictured out of court in 2021
Seven-year-old Hachi (pictured) mauled Neal Alexander at Bondi Junction after jumping out of Mrs Ho’s Land Rover. Akitas are a powerfully built breed of dog native to the mountainous regions of northern Japan, trained to hunt moose, wild boar and brown bears
Nearly three years later, the bitter feud between the former friends was back in court after Ms Ho reported stalking and intentionally harming Alexander over a collision at her Bondi Junction clinic on March 30, 2022.
Magistrate Ross Hudson said the case had a “bit of an unusual history,” telling the court that the current case should be viewed within the context of the couple’s history.
“When Ms. Ho got into the car (with Hachi), Mr. Alexander raised his hand to wave hello and the dog clamped his wrist,” Magistrate Hudson said on Friday, Feb. 24.
“The dog tore up his kidney and abdomen area and he needed a number of stitches for his wrist and abdomen. About eight to ten.
“It is then said that a number of things happened in his life after that.”
Magistrate Hudson said Mr Alexander was struggling to deal with his injuries, which continue to cause him problems.
Against the backdrop of his recovery, the Covid pandemic hit and his roommates moved out, leaving him to pay the rent alone.
Alexander previously told Daily Mail Australia that Ms Ho tried to pull Hachi off of him but was initially unable to do so due to her small stature and the dog’s large size. Witnesses called Triple Zero. Mr. Alexander’s horrific wrist injury is depicted
Mr Alexander’s (pictured) injuries were so severe that he spent a week in hospital, followed by six more as an outpatient. He still struggles with pain and suffers from PTSD
Charges against Mr Alexander over a confrontation last year at Wendy Ho Optique in Bondi Junction were dismissed. In the photo are the motorized doors at the front of the store that were damaged
Due to his injuries and Covid, Mr. Alexander was unable to work. He moved into his parents’ home for financial and recovery support and began seeking medical help for PTSD and depression.
Meanwhile, Ms Ho were charged with possessing a dangerous animal and Mr Alexander had to go to court on March 30, 2022 to testify.
Ahead of the stress of the hearing, Magistrate Hudson said Mr. Alexander had called to try and book an appointment with his GP for that morning, but was unable to get in until around 2pm.
After cross-examination at the Sydney Downing Centre, Mr Hudson said Mr Alexander was ‘very upset and confused’ and decided to stop by Ms Ho’s clinic – Wendy Ho Optique – on his way to his doctor’s appointment nearby.
“He just testified, reported the injuries, his recovery … he says the cross-examination is over the top,” said Magistrate Hudson.
‘Around 1:23 pm he goes to the optometrist. It has a glass motorized sliding door. He pushed it aggressively against the frame, and it came loose and was ajar.
“He approached her at the service desk, she raised her arms in fear of his action.
Hachi was put down after the attack. The dog is depicted in Mr. Alexander’s house
“He said something in an aggressive tone, but she can’t remember what he said. He says it was an attempt to say hello. She called security and he left.’
Magistrate Hudson noted that the ordeal had begun when Mr Alexander did a favor for a friend and, along with Covid and financial problems, has led to his mental health deteriorating.
Taking into account that the incident was on the “low end” of a felony, Magistrate Hudson said he believed a long-term treatment plan would be the most appropriate solution and dismissed the charges.
Under the terms, Mr. Alexander is prohibited from consuming alcohol for three months and must continue to have access to his healthcare providers for psychological and medical treatment.
Magistrate Hudson praised Mr Alexander for realizing the 2022 hearing would be stressful and for seeking help, but urged him to exercise more scrutiny in the future.
“You have a journey to overcome what happened to you that day and continue your treatment,” he said.
“Unusually what you did this morning was the right thing. You have contacted your practitioner, but unfortunately he was not available until 2 p.m.
“But in the future you can control what you do and say.”