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Over the New Year's break the Mandurah Mail will be taking a look back at the year that was 2019. Our annual Year in Review will recount the biggest story from each of the past 12 months. The second half of the year started with plenty of bark as the Mandurah Mail revealed in July there had been almost 600 reported dog attacks in Mandurah over two years, but zero prosecutions. Between 2013/14 and 2017/18, there were 1000 dog attacks reported in the City of Mandurah jurisdiction, with five people prosecuted through the courts. Following the release of the statistics, and after attack victims came forward, in October 2018 the City pledged 'tougher action' on offending pet owners in the future. However, when the Mandurah Mail followed up in July 2019, they had not prosecuted a single offending pet owner despite 600 reported dog attacks. There were 316 dog attacks reported to the City of Mandurah in the 2018/19 financial year, with 200 causing injury - the most recorded in the last six years and 41 more than the year before. The City handed down just 114 infringements and issued 76 cautions. The last prosecution of an offending dog owner was in 2016/17. In comparison, the Shire of Murray prosecuted 34 people between 2013/14 and 2017/18. At the time, City of Mandurah chief executive Mark Newman said following up on dog attacks was a complex issue and incidents must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. "The City is still in the process of instigating changes with the intent of taking reasonable stronger approaches," he said. "Some attacks have already resulted in fines of up to $1600. "The City takes dog attack offences seriously and again reiterates that it is paramount that dog owners keep control of their pets at all times in public places, and to keep them secure in their yard." Mr Newman said the City was able to assist dog attack victims through Freedom of Information to help with any civil action they take relating to injury or vet bills. "Following an attack, there are a number of complexities in gathering enough evidence to support the issue of an infringement notice," he said. A spokesperson for Mandurah MP and local government minister David Templeman said the state government was currently reviewing the Dog Act 1976. "The McGowan government is currently reviewing the Act, including the suitability of current offences and the current maximums and minimums for fines," they said. "Further protection could be provided by increasing the minimum fines under the Act. "However, this would reduce judicial discretion and is not a matter to be considered lightly." The current maximum penalty is a $20,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment.

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Mandurah Mail 2019 year in review: Dog attacks in the spotlight in July