UPDATE: A MAN injured in a dog attack in Prevelly has said no one was at fault over the incident, animals included.
On Wednesday morning, Margaret River resident Ross Reid was walking on the beach at Rifle Butts Reserve with his dog Tizer when two other dogs appeared.
“The dogs got too close,” Mr Reid said.
He was not sure which animal was the aggressor, but a fight started up between Tizer and one of the other dogs and he decided to step in.
“I just separated the dogs,” he said.
“There was flailing teeth... it was all a bit frantic.”
While pushing them apart, one of the dogs sunk its teeth into his arm.
“It could have been my dog, I didn’t really see. It’s got me on an unfortunate spot so there was a lot of blood.”
The other dog owner had been nearby on the beach and came over as soon as the attack happened. Two women also noticed and approached to help, soon offering a towel for the wound.
“I hadn’t met the guy whose dogs it was before, but he was really amicable,” Mr Reid said. “He took me to the hospital.
“He drove me in my car, so it was sorted in a lovely Margaret River way.”
Mr Reid said he did not need stitches and his visit to hospital was over in about half an hour. Most of his lower arm is wrapped in a large bandage and said the whole incident was not a big deal.
“I’m happy to say that if there was a dog at fault, it was my fault,” Mr Reid said.
He said he could have just left the dogs and they probably would have sorted it out, but he could not just stand there and watch.
After he stepped in, “they stopped fighting and they walked off happily, unaware”, he joked.
With the way things were swiftly resolved, Mr Reid said the event was “not a reflection on the dogs, the facility or the dog owners”. In fact, he regarded the event as a reminder of how much he appreciates the friendly local community and their willingness to help.
“Thanks to everyone involved – the two ladies on the beach, the dog owner and the hospital,” he said.
“It could’ve been a lot different if it happened somewhere else.”
A PERSON was allegedly attacked by a dog on Wednesday morning at Rifle Butts Reserve.
The victim was taken to hospital.
Augusta Margaret River Shire rangers were alerted to the incident.
