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🇦🇺 Australia /Conflict & Security

Dog attack death 'could have been prevented,' family says

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A 17-year-old girl, Annalyse Blyton, died four days after a severe dog attack in Singleton, NSW, Australia.
  • Her family is advocating for changes to dog ownership laws, including licensing and a crackdown on backyard breeders, believing the incident could have been prevented.
  • The attack has prompted calls for stronger laws to control aggressive dogs, with a review of the state's Companion Animals Act already underway.

The family of a 17-year-old girl mauled to death by a dog believes her death could have been prevented and is campaigning for stricter dog ownership laws.

The initial shock giving way to all the grief and pain. It's an unimaginable thing to be dealing with.

— Naomi BensonAnnalyse Blyton's stepmother, describing the family's grief after the fatal dog attack.

Annalyse Blyton was visiting a friend's house in Singleton, in the NSW Hunter Valley, last September when she was attacked by a 10-year-old mixed-breed dog. She died from her injuries four days later. Her stepmother, Naomi Benson, described the experience as unimaginable grief and pain, emphasizing that a beautiful person with her whole life ahead of her was lost.

Emergency services found Annalyse with critical injuries. The dog, a mix of boxer, bull arab, and Irish wolfhound, was euthanized with the owner's consent. The dog's owners have not been charged, and the matter is before the coroner, with the family awaiting answers on how the incident occurred.

For us to move forward we need a better understanding of how this could happen.

— Naomi BensonAnnalyse Blyton's stepmother, expressing the family's need for answers regarding the dog attack.

Ms. Benson, who founded the "Pink for Leasy" campaign in Annalyse's memory, is pushing for mandatory licensing for dog owners, especially those planning to own aggressive breeds. The campaign also calls for a crackdown on backyard breeders and better funding for local councils to enforce regulations. They believe access to education on aggressive breeds and dog behavior before purchasing a dog could make a significant difference.

Now we need to work through the details of what we can change to strengthen laws. There is clearly more we can do to control aggressive dogs.

— Dave LayzellMember for Upper Hunter, commenting on the need for legislative changes following the fatal dog attack.

Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell acknowledged the community's shock and stated the need to strengthen laws and control aggressive dogs. A review of the state's Companion Animals Act, initiated in February 2025 due to inquests into three fatal dog attacks, is currently underway.

This is something that could have been prevented. She could have finished her HSC and gone on to live her life.

— Naomi BensonAnnalyse Blyton's stepmother, advocating for preventative measures in dog ownership.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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