A six-year-old girl is in a serious condition in hospital after being mauled by a dog south of Brisbane over the Easter long weekend.
Police and paramedics were called to a house in Woodridge just after 4.30pm on Monday after reports a girl had sustained multiple bites from a large dog.
The girl is receiving care at the Queensland Children’s hospital for significant abdominal, chest and shoulder injuries.
A man in his late 20s is in a stable condition at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital after suffering leg injuries.
Two dogs – which were not registered – were euthanised after being seized by the Logan city council and taken to an animal management centre following the attack.
A council spokesperson said they were “committed to public safety through zero tolerance of … high-risk animal behaviour”.
“Following a dog attack in Woodridge this afternoon, council acted under its legislative powers to attend an address where two dogs were seized,” the spokesperson said.
“Today, in the interests of public safety, the two dogs were swiftly and humanely euthanised.”
The spokesperson said the council would continue to advocate for tougher dangerous dog legislation and share information with stakeholders about “the location of regulated menacing or dangerous dogs.”
The acting deputy commissioner, Mark Wheeler, said Queensland police would review what occurred.
“My first impressions of what occurred [is it’s] absolutely horrendous,” Wheeler told reporters on Tuesday.
“We know that a dog, particularly a large dog, and a young child – that can be a really catastrophic outcome.
“Our thoughts are with the young girl, her family and her friends and we wish her a speedy recovery.”
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said she was “very concerned” about the “shocking” incident of a girl being bitten by a dog.
The federal treasurer and a Queensland MP, Jim Chalmers, said his heart went out to the young girl and her family.
“I wanted to say that our hearts go out to the family of the little girl who is right now in a serious condition over at the Queensland Children’s hospital after that dog attack in the heart of our local community in Woodridge,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“As a dad of a six-year-old myself, I can only imagine the worry they have now but I can only assure them that she will be receiving the best care from the nurses and doctors and staff at the Queensland Children’s hospital.
“It’s a world-class hospital and that little girl … would be receiving the best possible care.”
