Table 8 of the 2013 report of the Local Government Division of the Premier and Cabinet Department of NSW provides that the total number of dog attacks reported to Local Councils in NSW in 2011-2012 as follows:
Total number of attacks reported 5,650.
Number of dogs involved in attacks 7,381.
Number of human victims 3,323.
The report noted that “The total number of attacks represented a 10% increase on the 5,140 reported in 2010/11. The total number of dogs involved in attacks is higher than the number of attacks. This is because more than one dog can be involved in a single attack. The average number of dogs involved in an attack was 1.3, approximately the same as in 2010/11. The number of victims, combined human and animal, is also higher than the number of attacks. This is because there may be more than one victim in a single attack. Animal victims include livestock as well as cats, dogs and other pets. Since 2011/12 the number of reported human victims of dog attacks has increased by 10% from 3,017) and the number of reported animal victims has increased by 13% from 4,729. On average there was one human victim for approximately every 1.7 attacks and this is close to the figure reported for 2010/11”.
If You or your dog is attacked by another dog
If you're attacked by a dog or your dog is attacked, you can defend yourself or your dog from the attacking dog( see section 22 Companion Animal Act NSW 1998. Dog attacks are in essence another form of assault. It is very common in assault matters that the victim has not known the perpetrator and has difficulty in identifying the perpetrator and nothing more can be done. Like in assault most people are attacked by dogs not known to them. If you are attacked by a dog you will probably be in a public place* and not know the owner and the dog’s location especially if the attacking dog was unaccompanied Regardless, you will need to report the attack to the Local Council’s animal control department. The Companion Animal Act NSW 1998 nominates “the Local Council” as being responsible for the “effective and responsible care and management of companion animals” in New South Wales. So if you are attacked by a dog you should report it to your local Council. They have access to records of all registered dogs and prior attacks by “local” dogs. That could help you identify the attacking dog’s owner and the attacking dog’s location if you do not know either the dog or the owner. This is most important if you have been injured or suffer loss because of a dog attack.