Pet Dog Mauls Boy In 'Tragic Backyard Attack,' Animal Euthanized

A dog was put down after it mauled an 11-year-old boy in the face in Melbourne on Friday afternoon.

Police said the dog, a Doberman, attacked the boy in the backyard of his home. Emergency services responded to the home and temporarily secured the canine in the backyard before taking it away. Meanwhile, the unnamed victim was rushed to a nearby hospital with facial injuries.

"Local rangers are attending the scene and will remove the dog which has been temporarily secured in the rear yard," a police spokesperson said Friday.

Speaking to local media Sunday, Kelvin Walsh, the Brimbank Council's city development director said, "In a tragic backyard attack, an 11-year-old child was mauled on the face by a family Doberman. Our thoughts are with the family of the injured child and we wish the child a speedy recovery.”

"Council animal management officers were called to assist police. The dog is not registered. Council will continue to offer Victoria Police ongoing assistance in the investigation,” he added.

The victim was listed stable while the dog was euthanized.

"The owner surrendered the animal to Council on Saturday and authorized its euthanasia, which was then carried out," Walsh said.

The incident comes two days after an elderly disabled man was mauled to death by his son's dog at their home in Melbourne. Police said 61-year-old Leo Biancofiore’s wife tried to rescue her husband when she saw the dog, an American Staffordshire terrier, attacking him. However, she herself was seriously injured. Police arrived at the scene and captured the dog for a while till the animal control officers took the animal away. While the woman was treated for injuries to her upper body, the dog was put down.