A Regents Park resident is calling for greater enforcement of new dangerous dog laws following multiple attempted attacks.
The outcry comes one month after a Woodridge woman was fined more than $6000 after her dog attacked and seriously injured someone.
Ken Sheehan is an avid cyclist who wins masters competitions and rides up to 400km a week.
He rides a bicycle used by professionals in The Tour de France – something he credits for saving him from dog attacks on multiple occasions.
“A normal child on an ordinary bike would have no chance of getting away from these attacks – no chance at all,” Mr Sheehan said.
“I’ve had many years of riding bikes and I know for a fact that, for whatever reason, dogs seem to feel particularly threatened by a bike and they get stirred up.
“Nine dogs out of 10 will attack a bike.
“It’s not just me, it’s a public safety issue – pedestrians and school children, particularly those riding bikes.”
In April 2024, changes to Queensland’s dangerous dog laws were passed.
The reforms mean owners of dogs who kill or seriously injure a person now face up to three years jail time and a fine of more than $100,000.
The maximum fine for failing to take “reasonable steps to ensure a dog does not attack” is $92,000 – double what it was.
Logan City Council advocated for the reforms following a fatal dog attack in Greenbank in 2022.
The value of council-issued fines for animal-related offences has more than quadrupled over the past four years.
Already in the 2024/2025 year, council has issued 45 infringement notices totalling $20,950.
In the 2023/2024 year, there were a total of 908 infringements valued at more than $397,000.
While Mr Sheehan hasn’t been physically harmed, he said dog owners should be reprimanded for not properly restraining aggressive dogs.
In one instance where he was chased down a street by two dogs – Mr Sheehan said there were no consequences for the owners.
“I think the owner should be fined – they’ve had warning and warning and warning, and visit and visit and visit by council, and have been asked to keep the dog properly controlled, but have failed time and time again,” he said.
“I only got away from the dog because I do a lot of training, I race, and I ride very high-quality bikes.”
In June this year, a local woman was fined $6473.40 over a 2023 dog attack.
The court heard 12 dogs had been kept at a Woodridge property, all of which were seized.
The offending dog was euthanised.
