Arabic version: مالك كلاب تشيرمسايد يواجه عقوبات أشد على مستوى الولاية

According to ABC News, the owner of two dogs that seriously injured a man in Brisbane’s north is expected to face harsher penalties under Queensland state law. The dogs attacked a 37-year-old man in parkland at Chermside on October 16, leaving him with serious injuries to his arms and requiring hospital treatment.

Brisbane City Council said it had moved away from a destruction order issued last weekend and instead made a proposed dangerous dog declaration on Wednesday. The dogs remain securely held. Council chair for customer services Councillor Sarah Hutton said the seriousness of the attack required tougher action under state legislation rather than council by-laws.

Under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act, the owner could face a maximum fine of $120,890 or two years in jail. The maximum fine available to the council is $51,810. The dogs had not previously been declared dangerous and were registered at a nearby address.

The owner has two weeks to respond to the proposed dangerous dog declaration. Council will consider any response before deciding the dogs’ fate, and there is a further opportunity to appeal to the Queensland Administrative Tribunal. Whether the dogs are ultimately destroyed will also depend on the continuing police investigation.

Police are separately examining whether a 48-year-old man found dead in bushland in the same area two days after the attack was killed by the dogs. No charges have been laid. Hutton said the council was working with Queensland Police and would use its available powers to protect residents and hold irresponsible dog owners to account.