A man is dead and a woman badly injured after a dog attack in Melbourne’s north.
Police said the man’s body was found at the Mill Park home about 6.40pm on Wednesday and the woman, believed to be his wife, was taken to hospital.
The dog remained inside the house for hours after as police and a ranger tried to capture it.
The dog, believed to be a American Staffordshire terrier, was reportedly taken away in an animal control van not long before 10.30pm on Wednesday.
Senior Sergeant Glenn Parker said the dead man’s daughter-in-law gave consent to destroy the animal.
“The dog belongs to the occupant’s son, the dog’s been here for quite some time,” he told reporters at the scene, according to the Herald Sun.
“He [the dog] will be taken to a veterinarian, and my understanding is that the owner of the dog has actually consented to that dog being put down.
“It’s an older dog, it’s quite familiar with all of the members of the family and my understanding is it’s out of character for the dog.”
A neighbour said there had never been trouble with the animal before.
“There was no stopping it. It’s a giant pit bull,” he told the Herald Sun.
Another witness said the dog was “going nuts”.
