Photos reveal bloody aftermath of $100k Sydney staffy attack
Bridal shop owner Mary Ioannidis, 54, was awarded more than $100,000 in damages this week in the NSW District Court after her dog Lexi was attacked in April 2020 by a greyhound Staffordshire bull terrier.
The court heard how the terrier was unrestrained when it launched at Ms Ioannidis and her dog, who was on a retractable leash, while on a walk on a suburban street in Mortdale.
Photos provided to news.com.au by Ms Ioannidis's legal team show the extent of the attack, which left Lexi with an amputated left leg.
One photo shows Ms Ioannidis sitting down after the attack, covered in blood.
Shine Lawyers associate Brittany Vella said her client had suffered 'profound consequences as a result' with the court finding Ms Ioannidis had been left with PTSD as a result of the attack.
The staffy's owner, owned by Melissa Carretero, was ordered to pay a total $101,788.63 in damages plus Ms Ioannidis' legal costs.
'There's not just the physical injuries, but long-term psychological trauma as well,' Ms Vella told news.com.au.
'Mary and Lexi were simply out for a walk when they were set upon by an unrestrained dog- an animal which dwarfed Lexi and which would have easily killed her had it not been for Mary's desperate efforts to save her.
'This was a truly horrifying attack and I hope [Tuesday's] judgment serves as a warning for dog owners to make sure their pets are always restrained and under control.'
The attack
Ms Ioannidis told the court she was left bloodied as she tried to save Lexi during the attack.
She said the large dog kept throwing Lexi from 'side to side' and ripped her 'whole paw' off at the joint.
'He kept running back and launching at me and he just kept attacking, and he just didn't stop. He didn't stop, and I was falling over and trying to get on my feet,' she said.
Ms Ioannidis also told the court she had her fingernails 'completely ripped off' in the chaos of the attack.
The court heard how there was luckily a vet nearby that provided Lexi with emergency treatment, including amputation of the leg at the shoulder.
Lexi has since died due to unrelated causes.
Ms Ioannidis told the court the trauma left her with crippling anxiety and said she has lost 10 kilograms since the attack.
Her partner said Ms Ioannidis now 'locks herself in the house' and said it was 'very hard to persuade her to leave.'
'Mentally, I don't cope with very much at the moment or since,' Ms Ioannidis told the court.
'Just my anxiety, being outside, having to run into any dogs. I didn't want to have to deal with any people.'
'I don't do anything. I don't want to go anywhere. It doesn't leave my head. I can't sleep. If I go for a walk, it has to be with someone, and I'm constantly looking over my shoulder.'
Staffy owner's defence
Ms Carretero admitted her dog attacked Lexi but denied it attacked Ms Ioannidis.
She argued to the court that Ms Ioannidis should not be entitled to recover damages for psychiatric injury suffered 'as a result of what happened to Lexi'.
She also argued Ms Ioannidis continued to work and often went to the gym since the attack.
District Court Judge John Catsanos SC found Ms Ioannidis had suffered economic loss and would continue to do so due to her PTSD.
'On balance, I find that the dog attack caused the plaintiff to suffer psychiatric injury in the form of PTSD,' Judge Catsanos said in his decision.
'[Ms Ioannidis] suffers a genuine psychiatric condition as a result of the attack.'
Judge Catsanos ruled damages for $49,500 for non-economic losses to the mental harm caused, as well as $15,000 for future mental health treatments and $35,000 due to past and future lost income.
He also ruled an amount of $2,288.63 for medication and mental health costs, which Ms Ioannidis had paid since the attack, with the total damages coming to $101,788.63.
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