A man is dead and a woman seriously injured after an attack by a pet dog in the city’s north east.
Police were called to a house on Ancona Drive in Mill Park about 6.40pm, where they found the man, aged in his 60s, already dead.
Police fired shots to stop the dog, believed to be an American Staffordshire terrier, from further attacking the woman.
Neighbours have said the man had recently been getting around on a motorised wheelchair following back problems.
One woman, who had known the man for 17 years, said she would miss their regular chats about the soccer and the Collingwood Football Club.
“It’s very sad, I didn’t sleep last night,” she told The Age.
“We would talk every second day when I went to Woolworths. He’s always out working in the garage. He’s been a very lovely person. We will miss him a lot, especially my husband. We love him.”
The neighbour rarely saw the dog, but said it would bark at her every time she walked by the house.
The dog remained inside the house for hours after the attack as police and a ranger tried to capture it.
It was eventually secured and on Thursday morning it was being held by the Whittlesea Council.
It is believed the dog was owned by the dead man’s son and was familiar with the family.
The woman, also in her 60s, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
