Jyedon Pollard, 2, was mauled to death by a rottweiler and a red heeler cross at a motel in Cowra on November8, 2022.
An inquest conducted at the NSW Coroner’s Court was told on Wednesday about the “terrible death” of the young boy whose family say was always a “happy and carefree child”.
The court was told how on the morning of the attack, the owner of the motel had placed his two dogs in an enclosed grassed area at the rear of the motel.
CCTV footage captured Jyedon walking to the rear of the motel where the dogs, who he had previously petted, were kept.
Jyedon Pollard, 2, died after he was savagely attacked by two dogs at a motel.
While there were no witnesses or CCTV footage of the fatal attack, Justice Carmel Forbes said she was satisfied based on the evidence that Jyedon went to see the dogs and was able to open the gate to the enclosure where he was then attacked.
Shortly after the attack, the motel owner ran out to find his rottweiler Bruce with blood around his mouth, as he sat on top of Jyedon.
He gave first aid to Jyedon, who had suffered critical injuries to his head and neck, before he was rushed to Cowra Hospital and later flown to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital.
He died a short time later as a result of the injuries.
The two dogs were seized and taken to the Cowra pound, where they were put down.
Jyedon’s family told the court the horrific death has had a “devastating impact” on them.
“His death has placed a sadness and hurt in our lives and has hurt us deeply,” Forbes read on behalf of the family.
“His smiling face is the heart-aching piece missing at our family celebrations.“
Jyedon’s mother Kesha Pollard told police it “all happened so quickly”.
A painter who worked at the motel also spoke to police and indicated he earlier saw Jyedon trying to get into a dog enclosure that was near the front office, however, at this stage the dogs had been moved to the rear enclosure.
He noted thinking at the time it’s “not going to be good” if he gets into the rear enclosure.
“It was evident to him that there would be a risk to a small child if there was unsupervised contact with the dogs,” Forbes said.
‘No prior history of aggression’
The court was also told that Jyedon’s tragic death highlights how quickly a fatal attack can unfold, especially when an infant is involved, and that the absence of any prior aggression is not always an indicator of risk.
“Many fatal dog attacks occur where the dog had no prior history of aggression,” she said.
It is anticipated that dog attacks are under-reported in NSW, however, with owners said to not want to face the consequences of having their pet removed from them.
A number of recommendations were handed down as part of the inquest in order to mitigate further risks of serious or fatal dog attacks in future.
Forbes said the findings highlighted the need for education and training for all dog owners, in particular those with dog breeds that are identified as high risk.
Jyedon Pollard was described during the inquest as a 'happy and carefree child'.
She added councils should also consider licensing requirements for dog ownership of particular high-risk breeds of dogs, and that these owners would undergo further education in safety and risk management.
It is also recommended that a revision be undertaken of the maximum penalty units for acts such as failure to register animals and failure to report attacks and aggression.
Forbes also likened the need for accommodation providers to ensure they have adequate enclosures and fencing for their animals akin to that of the pool fencing act in NSW, to ensure young children cannot open these enclosures.
“In conclusion, there have been a concerning amount of dog attacks on people in NSW in the past 15 years that have resulted in serious injuries or even death,” she said.
“We must be committed to achieving modern outcomes and frameworks to avoid future tragedy and minimise the potential for similar attacks.
“I express my sincerest condolences to the family.”
No charges have been laid as a result of the death of Jyedon Pollard.
