On the 20th January at Boyland, a special and much-loved retired thoroughbred mare called Mogadonne (pictured below) was attacked and viciously mauled by several of a neighbours six dogs. They were not feral or wild dogs. The mare was found brought to the ground in a fenced paddock with multiple injuries (too horrific to print) including a bone fracture. Her heart rate rapid and terror in her eyes, she was euthanised by the attending vet.

The mare was with this family for 20 years, an ex-racing horse from Sydney, when younger, she had won four of her first five races. She was trained by the renowned horse trainer Peter Snowden. Her progeny won eleven races. She later became a great nanny for weanlings. She had a gentle nature, as seen with one of the owner’s many grandchildren.
Apparently two of the largest attacking dogs in this tragedy were euthanised; they did not suffer as the mare did. Only two dogs per property are allowed in the Scenic Rim, unless an animal keeping licence is issued. The Gold Coast, Brisbane and Logan Councils have all experienced an increase or “spike” in dog attacks. The Scenic Rim Council is silent on this matter except for announcing an increase in wild dog attacks on domestic animals in 2022, which were being controlled by cruel and cheap 1080 baiting. Wild dogs exist because of weak laws, negligent people and allowing domestic dogs to breed freely.
 All these Councils vow to crackdown on menacing and dangerous dogs, but only by impounding and killing them; state laws need to change. Petitions have been presented to the State Premier about the dog problem and each time the answer is a copy of the Qld State Animal Management Act 2008, it is old, ineffective. Qld needs to follow the lead of South Australia where desexing is mandatory, just one of many approaches to reduce the number of overpopulated, unwanted dogs, and neutering reduces all forms of aggression. Some councils mention that more dogs have training, however training is unlikely to make any difference to an adult dog that has had no early intervention, has mis-informed owners or dog genetics not suitable for ‘just a pet’. It was only a few months ago a man was killed by dogs in Greenbank, before that, a child on the Gold Coast. Dogs can be as deadly as guns, and we have gun laws.
Pam Brandis,
Dip. Canine Prac.