Spate of dog attacks prompt Perth council crackdown

An alarming spate of dog attacks in the Perth hills has prompted the Shire of Kalamunda to crack down on dog owners.

This week alone there's been five separate attacks in the shire, and local ranges are blaming owners.

"I think all of them could have been prevented it's just a matter of people paying extra attention," chief ranger Cameron Smith said.

In the past seven months, two people have been bitten, four dogs have died after being mauled and one family was left with a $17,000 vet bill.

"The emotional trauma in the kids is probably the worst, and also people who lose their animals – sometimes these animals are their children, they don't have kids of their own they have animals instead," Mr Smith said.

The council has issued more than $18,000 in fines and successfully prosecuted six owners after their dogs attacked.

It is urging owners to take more responsibility for their pets.

"People just aren't showing their dogs enough attention," Mr Smith said.

They're getting dogs thinking 'oh yeah we want a dog to protect the house' but they don't care about it and through it in the backyard and leave it there.

"You can't do that you've got to take them out and walk them as much as possible."