Family Pet Attack: Four Seriously Injured in Melton West Home
Four individuals sustained serious injuries in a dog attack that occurred in a family home on James Cook Drive in Melton West, west of Melbourne, on Thursday night.
Victoria Police reported that the incident involved a family pet which attacked the group following an argument.
The individuals suffered significant, non-life-threatening dog bites that necessitated surgery.
Emergency Response and Injuries
Ambulance Victoria paramedics were dispatched at approximately 10:30 PM. Four people received medical attention and were transported to hospitals:
- A male in his late teens was treated for lower-body injuries and taken to Sunshine Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
- A female in her late teens was treated for lower-to-mid-body injuries and also taken to Sunshine Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
- A woman in her 30s was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition with lower-to-mid-body injuries.
- A man in his 20s was treated for mid-body injuries and taken to Footscray Hospital in a stable condition.
Animal Control Action
Both the dog involved in the attack and a second dog from the same residence were seized by a council ranger.
The family confirmed that both dogs have since been euthanized.
Rising Trend in Dog Bite Incidents
Data from the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU) indicates a consistent increase in emergency department presentations for dog bites.
In 2019/20, 3,583 presentations were recorded, which rose to 4,882 in 2023/24. This equates to an average of 94 people attending emergency departments for dog bite injuries weekly in 2023/24, with roughly two in five presentations leading to hospital admission.
Approximately two in five bites affected the wrist or hand, while about one in five were in the head region.