Eight dogs are credited with thwarting an alleged sexual assault attempt on two women in Kooyong, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. The incident occurred on Tuesday when an unidentified man reportedly emerged from bushes and accosted the women and their dogs.
According to one of the women, the man grabbed her friend by the neck and shoulders before turning his attention to her, threatening her and demanding she enter a nearby tunnel. "He lunged for my friend and grabbed a hold of her neck and upper shoulders," the woman told 9News. "Then he started walking over to me and talking and threatening me to get me into the tunnel, and he wanted to have sex with me."
Victoria Police have launched a criminal investigation and released a facial composite of the suspect. The man is described as being of African appearance, wearing black tracksuit pants, white socks, slides, a black and gray hooded top, and a black face covering. He was also carrying a large, bright blue backpack.
As the man attempted to flee, the dogs, a mix of breeds, chased after him. Footage shared online shows at least six dogs pursuing the suspect towards a tunnel under the Monash Freeway. One dog, identified as a small blue heeler, is seen latching onto the man's pants and tearing off a piece of fabric.
"I was thinking of all the different scenarios that could happen, but I was more trying to jump into action rather than focus on how scared I was," the woman recounted. She emphasized the need for vigilance, stating, "You always have to be alert. I’m not going to let it stop me from coming to the park that I enjoy so much, and the dogs enjoy."