An Inevitable Failure
When we first reported the fatal dog attack on our dog, Manix, we had a reasonable expectation: that the responsible local authority would conduct a thorough and professional investigation. Instead, we were met with a process that seemed designed to fail.
We have now received official notification that the case has been permanently closed, with the perpetrators still at large and no justice served. While this is the end of this chapter, it is vital to use this experience as a case study to understand the systemic failures that victims face.
A Failure of Basic Investigation
A successful investigation requires gathering all available evidence. The most critical and undeniable failure in this case was the failure to interview the key witness.
The primary witness—the neighbour who had prior knowledge of the dogs and their owner, and who was present to facilitate their escape—was never formally questioned by our local council. An investigation that concludes without speaking to the most important witness is, by definition, an incomplete and failed investigation. This single omission guaranteed that no progress could be made.
A Pattern of Unprofessional Victim Management
Alongside the investigative failures, the communication from the lead investigator was deeply unprofessional. After an initial period of reassurance, a pattern of disempowerment began. Legitimate inquiries were dismissed, and eventually, all communication was ceased. This "ghosting" of a victim of trauma is a cruel and unacceptable tactic.
This pattern persisted even after interventions were made on our behalf by the relevant state government department and our local Member of Parliament. The silence was only broken to deliver the final, negative news that the case was closed. This demonstrates a process that prioritizes closing a difficult file over supporting a resident in their time of need.
The Path Forward
The closure of this case is not the end of our fight for justice. It is, however, the end of our faith in the local council system to provide it.
This experience has exposed deep flaws in how victims are treated and how investigations are conducted. It has made it clear that to prevent this from happening to another family, the fight must now focus on achieving broader, systemic reform. The details of this failed investigation will form the evidentiary basis of our ongoing advocacy for a safer and more accountable Victoria.