Derby Man fined over Kimberley dog attack which left US backpacker with horrific puncture wounds

A Derby man has been fined over a shocking dog attack which saw a female US backpacker left with puncture wounds so deep saline solution was said to “go in one hole and out the other”. During the incident in February last year, 57-year-old Shum Gee Lwoy’s male Staffordshire Bullterrier, Jumbalu, attacked a female American backpacker after escaping from Lwoy’s family property through an open gate. The victim was taken to hospital after the incident, with her injuries so severe the medical report said saline solution “passed through one puncture hole, and out the other”. After being kept in hospital overnight, the victim spent one week off work before returning part-time for two weeks. The canine had already been labelled a dangerous dog by the Shire, meaning Lwoy had an increased onus to ensure the dog was held or tethered at all times, and muzzled when not confined to an enclosure. After the incident, Shire officers ceased the dog and gave notice of intention to destroy. The dogs were euthanised on April 9. Lwoy pleaded guilty in Derby magistrates court on Wednesday to four charges related to the incident; dog attack or chase causing physical injury, being an owner of a dog that is not registered, dangerous dog not held or tethered and when a dangerous dog is not confined in an enclosure the dog must wear a muzzle. In sentencing, Magistrate Stephen Sharratt said Lwoy, who was overseas at the time of the attack, hadn’t taken steps to properly restrain the dog. Magistrate Sharratt accepted the early guilty plea, the dog being euthanised and the fact Lwoy had volunteered to pay all medical bills as a mitigating factors in sentencing. It was also acknowledged by the Magistrate that the non-registered status of the dog was unintentional, as registration had expired just a couple of months before the incident. Speaking after sentencing, Lwoy said he had regrets over the incident. “He’s bitten people before, which is why we had the warning signs up,” he said. “I regret leaving the country, it’s going to cost me a lot and my dog’s been killed. “When we’re at home with the kids he was great.” Lwoy will have to pay more than $5000 in fines and costs for the four charges, a small fraction of the possible maximum of $40,000. Shire of Derby-West Kimberley acting president Paul White said the shire had a zero tolerance for dogs that attack people and would have no hesitation imposing penalties on their owners which may potentially lead to prosecution. “Unfortunately, dog attacks occur regularly and are often not reported to the Shire’s rangers,” he said. “This is a concern as attacks will often escalate if changes to the dog’s behaviour or containment are not changed. “Under State legislation, any breed of dog can be declared dangerous if they chase or cause injury or damage by an attack on a person, animal or vehicle and if the dog has repeatedly shown a tendency to attack.” Mr White said any dog attacks in the Shire should immediately be reported to the rangers on 9191 0999.