Coroner inquires on mauled girl

By Sarah Schwager
THE coroner was this week investigating the death of a 22-month-old girl who was mauled by the family dog in their Bunyip North home.
The girl’s father discovered the toddler about 3.45am last Thursday with injuries to her body.
She was believed to have been mauled by the family dog, a Labrador-dingo cross.
Ambulance officers were called to the Sanders Road home and the girl was taken to Dandenong District Hospital in a critical condition but died about 7am.
She had last been seen at 2.30am on Thursday when her father checked on her.
Detective Sergeant Phil Jury, from Pakenham CIU, said the dog had been discovered in the house but had not been left inside.
“Somehow the dog got into the house from the outside,” Det Sgt Jury said.
The dog was later destroyed with permission from the family.
The toddler had three siblings, two sisters aged four and six and a brother aged five months.
Det Sgt Jury said the family were “doing it tough”.
“It was such a tragic incident that I think they are trying to cope but it is very difficult.
“They’re very distressed about the whole incident.
“They’re reacting how you would expect them to react.”
Cardinia Shire governance and communications manager Doug Evans said council’s local laws officers had received a request from Victoria Police early Thursday morning to attend the Bunyip North property to seize a dog.
“That dog was subsequently seized and has since been destroyed,” Mr Evans said.
The coroner’s investigation was continuing and a finding was expected soon.