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Eighty-two year-old dog attack victim, Jill Tonkin, is home. Mrs Tonkin has been transferred back to Goondiwindi after spending more than a week in a Toowoomba Hospital where she underwent skin grafts to her legs after being attacked by two dogs two weeks ago. “The skin graft has taken well, although having the dressing changed every second day has been excruciating,” Jill’s son Matthew said. “The mental trauma that this attack has caused is heartbreaking. “Her one wish is that no-one ever has to go through what she has been through,” he said. The family hopes Mrs Tonkin’s story will make more aware of the consequences of a dog attack. “We implore all dog owners to be responsible,” he said. “Tony, Jill and family would like to thank everyone for their well wishes. “It’s been overwhelming.” PICS: “Terrified”. Readers send in their pics of savage hail storm READ: Vital medical transport service to Toowoomba may fold. Two dogs have been seized by the Goondiwindi Regional Council and its investigation continues. It could be a a long and drawn out process. (See below) Mrs Tonkin was rushed to the Goondiwindi Hospital after an afternoon walk went horribly wrong and she was left screaming in the street. Mrs Tonkin was walking home in Yapunyah Crescent around 5.30pm on Sunday a fortnight ago, when she was savaged by two dogs. “They just rushed towards me and bit into both my legs. “I just screamed, ‘Get them off me, get them off me!’” With both legs bleeding “profusely” she hobbled home “I was just screaming for help.” It arrived in the form of another teenager Alex McDonnell who lives next door to the Tonkins. She called her father Stan who administered first aid and called the ambulance. The family praised their efforts. “By the time Stan got to mum she had lost a lot of blood,” her son Matthew said. “He did a wonderful job,” he said. Mrs Tonkin said she was “innocently walking along the same road I have done for 16 years. I wasn’t antagonising the dogs in anyway and did not realise they were out until they rushed at me.” “Once Mrs Tonkin and the dogs’ owner are interviewed and the facts are determined a decision will be made as to the course of action Council will take given the legislative requirements we work under,” GRC Mayor, Cr Graeme Scheu said. That process for all dog attacks and complaints: 1. Council collects statements and evidence as police do. They then compare the evidence, recheck facts and if necessary re-interview some witnesses. 2. Once sufficient information exists Council officers make a decision about the accuracy of the evidence and what it suggests the remedy should be. 3. If the evidence supports it, Council can use the Animal Management Cats and Dogs Act to make a regulated dog declaration. There are two levels of declaration depending upon the severity of the incident, a dangerous dog declaration OR a Menacing Dog Declaration. The two declarations basically impose more stringent conditions on the owner of the dog around restraining it, desexing, signage etc. 4. If the evidence supports it Council may simultaneously issue a Destruction Order to have the dogs destroyed. 5. In all cases once the decision is made, the owner of the animals must be provided with a notice advising of the proposed declaration and advising them of their opportunity to provide written representations as to why the proposed declaration should not be made within 14 days. Council must then review the representation and make a decision about the declaration. 6. When a decision is made Council must again provide a notice of the decision and advise that the owner can seek an internal review of the decision. 7. If an Internal Review is sought, another officer within Council must review the evidence and the decision and decide if the declaration is appropriate and then advise the owner. 8.The owner then has the right to appeal the decision withThe Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT). READ, see pics: Robin the hood turns back the clock for Civic Centre

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