'I thought she was dead': Two bullmastiffs euthanized after violent attack on 6-year-old girl

Laquarna Chapman Palmer, 6, sustained serious injuries after a savage attack by her neighbor's bullmastiffs

UPDATED APR 12, 2023

Laquarna Chapman Palmer, 6, was dragged over the fence by a neighbor's bullmastiff (News9/YouTube, Representational image - Saeed Khokhar/Pexels)

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: In a horrible finish to the Easter holiday weekend, a dog pulled a six-year-old child off a fence before violently attacking her near Brisbane. Laquarna Chapman Palmer, 6, was dragged over the fence by a neighbor's bullmastiff while she was playing in Woodridge, around 25 kilometers south of the center of Brisbane. Around 4.30 pm, the dog dragged her into a garden where both of the neighbor's mastiffs mauled her.

She was hospitalized in a critical but stable condition despite catastrophic chest, abdomen, and shoulder injuries. Laquarna's uncle, Reece Chapman, heard her cries and ran to her assistance, as per reports.

Child sustains grievous facial injuries and requires surgery after being attacked by a dog

'I thought she was dead'

Chapman said, "She just got pulled off the fence by one of the dogs. I just heard my mother screaming in panic and just ended up jumping the fence to help her, and one of the dogs were there going to attack her face, I threw a chair at the dog." He further added, "I thought she was dead, honestly, because she was laying there lifeless," as reported by Chronicle.

Chapman also sustained leg injuries that required 10 stitches. Dog handlers from the council arrived at the scene of the incident and retrieved the dogs. Queensland Ambulance said, "One patient has been transported in a serious condition to Queensland Children's Hospital after a reported dog attack at 4.26 pm."

The unregistered mastiffs were both put to death on Tuesday after severely injuring the six-year-old girl's chest and abdomen, Logan City Council confirmed. According to a statement from Logan City, "Following a serious dog attack in Woodridge on Monday afternoon, Council acted under its legislative powers to seize two Bull Arab type dogs which were not registered or known to Council," as reported by News.com.au.

'Zero-tolerance for irresponsible animal ownership'

The statement added, "They were taken to Council's Animal Management Centre. (On Tuesday), in the interests of public safety, the two dogs were swiftly and humanely euthanized." According to the statement, the council "has zero-tolerance for irresponsible animal ownership and high-risk animal behavior."