Last month, a beloved 14-year-old Jack Russell-cross named Rocky was brutally killed by a much larger dog outside his home.
Rocky’s owners, Paul Hillam and Tracey MacLaren, watched helplessly as their cherished pet was “viciously” mauled.
Neighbours heard Ms MacLaren’s screams and rushed to help, but it was too late – Rocky was gone.
This is just one of hundreds of dog attacks that take place in Logan every year, with more than one attack occurring every day over the last five years.
“Tracey was walking the dog, and she was about to walk through our gates when this dog came out of nowhere, grabbed our little dog and shook the crap out of him.” Mr Hillam said.
“Rocky couldn’t have done anything – he was old and partially deaf – he was in his autumn years.
“We were expecting him to die, but of natural causes, not murder.”
The sudden and bloody attack has left Ms MacLaren with physical and mental trauma.
She still sports large green bruises along her shins and said she was plagued by guilt and struggling to sleep at night.
“It was the worst experience of my life,” Ms MacLaren said.
“The most horrific thing I have ever witnessed.”
Ms MacLaren said she no longer felt comfortable in her own home and felt she “should have done something” to save Rocky.
“The dog just shook him and shook him and shook him.”
This isn’t the first dog attack Mr Hillam has witnessed in Logan and he said it was a disturbing trend more apparent here than other cities.
“We have lived in this area for 10 years,” Mr Hillam said.
“I worked as a postman in Western Australia for five years, Victoria for three years and Logan City for two.
“I was attacked more in two years in Logan than the previous eight years interstate.
“I can only assume that dog owners in Logan are more irresponsible than elsewhere.”
He also suspects Queensland’s dog laws are too “slack”.
There have been 175 dog attacks in Logan so far this financial year, according to council, which is investigating the attack on Rocky.
“Logan City Council is committed to the highest levels of public safety through a zero-tolerance approach to irresponsible animal ownership practices and high-risk animal behaviour,” a Logan City Council spokesperson said.
“Council continues to take swift and effective enforcement measures, particularly in instances where there is an impact on public safety.
“Council plays a critical role in protecting members of the public from dangerous and aggressive dogs that pose a risk to people and other animals.”
Between the 2020-21 and 2023-24 financial years there were 2170 council-confirmed dog attacks in Logan.
That is an average of 542 attacks per year – almost 1.5 attacks per day.
Following a series of serious dog attacks, council advocated for the Queensland government to toughen its laws relating to the management of dogs and increased levels of personal responsibility for pet owners.
Since council endorsed its current animal management plan in 2023, more than double the number of fines have been issued to non-compliant animal owners.
In 2023-24 financial year, more than 900 infringement notices were issues, with fines totalling $397,377 – an increase of almost $190,000 from 2022-23.
As of 25 July, 45 infringements and fines totalling 20,950 had been issued in 2024-25.
Mr Hillam and Ms MacLaren said they just want “justice for our little dog”.
