Broome dog attacks seven times the national average, according to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Dog attacks in Broome are seven times the national average it has been revealed with Broome Regional Hospital tending to four dog bites per week on average. A study published in 2024 looking at dog bite presentation across regional WA, found Broome Regional Hospital had on average four dog-bite presentations per week from the July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the average amount of dog bites across the country is 20 per 100,000 people but in Broome it is seven times the rate with 142 bites per 100,000 people. Some 83 per cent of dog bite presentations across the Kimberley were discharged the same day while 23 per cent required emergency department care or a surgical operation and 3 per cent of patients were required to transfer for subspecialty tertiary level care. The Shire of Broome has also recorded an uptick in dog attack complaints with the Shire receiving 168 dog attack complaints in 2023, up 28 attacks from the previous year. The Shire also received 111 barking complaints and conducted 15 investigations in 2023, double that of 2022. Dog attacks have also hit headlines in Broome recently with a senior attacked by two dogs on Cable Beach earlier this week (July 17) and prominent local real estate agent Tony Hutchinson being attacked by two dogs while conducting a routine property inspection ealier this year. The study authors concluded that the large number of dog bites in Broome and the need for hospital admission highlighted the challenges regional hospitals face. The researchers recommended more education, engineering and enforcement to prevent dog bite injuries and improve the management of a significant and preventable public health issue. It comes as a new draft Animal Management Plan which seeks to reduce the number of stray dogs and dog attacks is set to front Broome Council on Thursday (July 25).