Daryl Quick was entering his Ballarat business from a rear lane when the neighbour’s rottweiler jumped over a corrugated tin fence and charged at him. 

Mr Quick managed to scale the opposite neighbour’s fence and escape into a fish and chip shop.

“It’s a savage dog. I was coming back in (to the rear of the building) and I saw his leg come over (the fence),” Mr Quick said.

“I didn’t look behind me. The dog hit the fence just before my feet hit the ground (on the other side). “I jumped into the fish and chip shop. And I was bleeding everywhere because I cut my hands on the tin.”

A council ranger later removed the dog, but Mr Quick was astounded when the council returned the dog and said it was investigating the incident.

“Until it mauls a kid, no one cares. Council said (it returned the dog) because my injuries weren’t sustained by the dog,” Mr Quick said.

He said he hasn’t mowed his lawn at the rear of the business for months due to fear of aggravating the dog.

He now drives through a back alley to reach the rear of the business rather than walk.

“I don’t really want to go out there now,” he said.

City of Ballarat general manager city infrastructure Eric Braslis said council would not comment on outcomes of specific incidents.

“Council treats incidents involving animals that are not suitably contained on their property or under effective control seriously,” Mr Braslis said.

“Council recently amended our orders to ensure animals must be on a lead in all areas other than areas explicitly designated as off-leash.

“Owners should also ensure their animals wear identification through the registration tag and respect the rights of other community members to ensure they do not pose a risk to public safety or cause nuisance to others.”

david.jeans@fairfaxmedia.com.au