A shocking incident at Quindalup beach, where four-year-old Lucia was mauled by a Rottweiler, has raised significant concerns about dog safety around children.
While enjoying their holiday at the picturesque beach located near Dunsborough, Lucia and her family were playing innocently when, without warning, the Rottweiler attacked. "He was very big, very strong. There was no way ... your instinct as a mother is to remove your child from this situation, but you couldn’t," expressed her mother, Natalie, who vividly recalls the terror of the moment.
On Tuesday, as the children played knee-deep in water, the young Rottweiler approached them curiously. But within moments, the dog made a beeline for Lucia, “aggressively biting her on her shoulder, her neck, and her back,” Natalie recounted. The situation quickly escalated, and as she attempted to protect her daughter, Natalie felt powerless against the dog’s strength. "I ran ... the power and the strength of a dog of this breed and size, you're powerless to do anything," she said, heartbroken.
A bystander, Luke, intervened and took swift action by tightening the dog's collar and kicking it, eventually forcing it to release Lucia. By this stage, Lucia was bleeding and severely injured, nearly unresponsive. "She was listless, bleeding heavily. Her neck, shoulder, and back had big puncture wounds," Natalie described.
Emergency services were contacted, but with the ambulance still 35 minutes away, Lucia’s family decided to transport her themselves to the Busselton Health Campus Emergency Department. Natalie highlighted, "Ambulances were nowhere as quick as we needed them to be." Eventually, thanks to quick-thinking and medical advice, they were able to manage Lucia’s bleeding until they reached the hospital.
After her immediate medical needs were addressed, Lucia was later airlifted to Perth Children's Hospital for surgery. "The ordeal was absolutely horrendous ... but to not know she was going to survive, that's hugely traumatic," Natalie recalled, reflecting on the agonizing period leading up to the stabilization of Lucia’s heartbeat.
The incident has led to rigorous discussions about dog safety regulations, especially concerning breeds like Rottweilers which are not currently listed as dangerous. "They have the propensity to cause huge amounts of injury or damage, they are often unpredictable ... that's just not a risk any responsible parent is willing to take," stated Natalie, who hopes the incident will serve as a warning to others about the unpredictability of dogs around children.
This traumatic event was compounded by another incident occurring the same day. Just hours later, Tamsin Young was walking near her home when she was attacked by two Rottweilers, suffering bruises and bleeding wounds. "There is ... underlying sense of fear,” she admitted, showcasing the psychological toll these attacks can inflict on victims.
The City of Busselton has acknowledged the seriousness of the incident, confirming the dog involved has since been euthanized and stating, "The City has been informed...a serious incident involving a child who sustained significant injuries from a dog attack." The local authority is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding both attacks.
Returning home after her traumatic experience, Natalie noted the lasting impact it had on her family. Lucia, once filled with joy at the beach, now harbors fear and aversion to dogs. "She cannot be around our family pet now. She doesn’t want to go to the beach or be around dogs anymore," Natalie shared, lamenting how a place of family joy has turned to one of fear.
Lucia’s recovery continues, accompanied by daily dressings and surgeries. Natalie's hope is not just for her daughter’s physical healing but for broader awareness and action to prevent such traumatic events from happening again. "It was extremely traumatic, and I don't want anyone else to go through this," Natalie emphasized.
This harrowing event serves as both a distressing reminder of the unpredictability of dog behavior and the urgent need for heightened safety measures around potentially dangerous breeds, so innocent children like Lucia may safely enjoy their childhood without fear.