Dog owner fined $4000 for fatal attack

A Karratha man has been fined $4000 over a fatal dog attack in Baynton last month, as dog owners are urged to take proper care of their pets or face potentially steep consequences.

Jason Forster did not appear for his case before Karratha Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday but entered pleas of guilty to four charges relating to the attack under the Dog Act.

City of Karratha senior ranger Kim Sparks, who prosecuted the case, said on the evening of November 9, Forster and his untethered white male “staffy” had come across a woman walking her two dogs on Campbell Crescent in Baynton.

He said the staffy “without warning” attacked one of the woman’s dogs, a small terrier, with such force that two men intervening could not separate them.

The terrier was killed in the attack.

Forster’s staffy, which was unregistered and not microchipped, has since been put down.

Magistrate Brian Gluestein fined Forster a total of $4000 for the offences.

City of Karratha Mayor Peter Long said the case highlighted the importance of following proper pet ownership precautions.

“Sadly ... the deaths of both of these dogs could have been avoided through responsible pet ownership,” he said.

Mr Long said residents should report dog attacks as soon as they occurred, and noted that included attempted attacks where no injuries resulted.