Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant
MORUYA, NEW SOUTH WALES: Two pet Rottweilers who killed a newborn were put down last week. The terrible incident has prompted the parents of the five-week-old to speak out.
As per reports, Mia Jade Riley was asleep inside a bassinet during a family barbecue when the two dogs attacked her. Despite the efforts of the family as well as the hospital, the infant could not be saved. The baby was at her granddad’s home in Moruya with her parents with the dogs, where the unfortunate incident occurred.
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Statement by Mia's parents Lani and Tom Riley
Mia's parents, Lani and Tom Riley invited all those with "kind hearts" to attend a memorial service for their daughter on March 3, in a post on social media, as per 7News. The post read, "Mia’s family has been overwhelmed by the large showing of support and compassion from their community and want all those with kind hearts to attend if they so choose."
The parents asked the attendees to bring a hibiscus flower in any color to the event. "Hibiscus only last a day once picked, so best picked in the morning. They are currently in flower everywhere, all around town, possibly even in your neighbour’s front yard."
A New South Wales council confirmed that the two dogs responsible for baby Mia’s death have now been euthanized. "Eurobodalla Council can confirm two dogs were seized by rangers. The dogs were euthanized on Friday following advice from NSW Police," a spokesman said, reported Daily Mail. The council claimed it had previously dealt with complaints about the dogs' noise but had never heard anything about them being dangerous. "Council has no reports regarding dangerous or menacing dogs associated with the address. The barking complaints were followed up with the dogs' owners as per standard practice," said the spokesman.
153 Rottweiler attacks in a year
In NSW, there were 4549 dog attacks in the most recent 12 months (from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022), and 153 of those attacks were by Rottweilers, as per government statistics. The majority of animal behaviorists contend that banning particular breeds does not increase public safety, although several governments, like NSW, insist that the practice reduces the likelihood of dog attacks. "Councils have a range of powers to reduce the risk of dog attacks, including the ability to classify certain dogs as restricted, dangerous or menacing," a NSW Office of Local Government spokesperson stated, as per Yahoo.