Four people were taken to hospital after a family pet dog attacked at a home in Melton West, with police and council investigators now examining what triggered the incident.
A dog attack at a family home in Melton West, west of Melbourne, has left four people seriously injured and in need of surgery after suffering what police described as significant bites. The incident unfolded late on Thursday night at a property on James Cook Drive, where emergency services were called amid distressing screams heard from nearby homes.
Victoria Police said the dog involved was a family pet and that it attacked a group of people during an argument inside the home. The injured were treated for wounds described as significant but not life-threatening. Ambulance Victoria responded with Advanced Life Support and Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance paramedics, after being called to the address at about 10:30pm.
Who was injured and where they were taken
- A male in his late teens was treated for lower-body injuries and taken to Sunshine Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
- A female in her late teens was treated for lower- to mid-body injuries and taken to Sunshine Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
- A woman in her 30s was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with lower- to mid-body injuries, in a serious but stable condition.
- A man in his 20s was treated for mid-body injuries and taken to Footscray Hospital in a stable condition.
Neighbours Ravinder Kaur and Paul Sandhu said they heard an eruption of “very loud screams” late on Thursday night, describing voices pleading to be left alone. Ms Kaur, who works as an NDIS provider, said the sounds alarmed those nearby, including an NDIS participant at the property who feared someone was being harmed.
Mr Sandhu said that when he stepped outside, the street filled quickly with flashing lights and sirens. He recalled multiple ambulances arriving separately, with police vehicles following, creating a scene that left locals bracing for the worst. Both neighbours said their immediate thoughts were with the people injured, and they wished them a fast recovery.
The dog was seized by a council ranger, along with a second dog at the same address, after Victoria Police requested council assistance. The City of Melton confirmed a ranger attended the property and that two dogs were surrendered to council officers, while noting that the matter remains under investigation and further details were not being released.
The family later confirmed both dogs have since been euthanised. It is not yet clear what will be concluded about the immediate trigger for the attack, or whether there were any prior reports involving either animal. Police and council inquiries are expected to examine the circumstances inside the home, the timeline of events, and any risk factors that may have escalated the situation so quickly.
The attack has also re-ignited concerns about dog bite injuries across Victoria, where emergency presentations have been trending upward in recent years. Surveillance data cited in reporting points to a steady rise in hospital presentations for dog bites, including cases serious enough to require admission. The figures underline how quickly domestic incidents can become medical emergencies, even when the animal involved is a household pet rather than a roaming dog.
Health data shows bite injuries frequently involve hands and wrists, and a significant share involve the head region, patterns that doctors say can reflect the chaos of trying to fend off or restrain a dog mid-attack. In many cases, the immediate danger may pass quickly, but recovery can take longer, with surgery and follow-up care needed to treat deep wounds and reduce infection risk.
For Melton West residents, the focus now is on the wellbeing of those injured and on understanding what happened at the James Cook Drive property. Police and council investigators are continuing their work, and any official outcomes about the incident will depend on their findings.
For the original report and official updates as they emerge, you can read the ABC News coverage via ABC News.
Note: This article summarises publicly reported details from emergency services, police, and council statements.
