Child, 3, mauled to death by dogs

SYDNEY, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A 3-year-old girl is dead after she and her 16-month-old sister were mauled by four dogs in the Australian town of Whitton, a neighbor says.

Whitton resident Shiree Parr said Ruby-Lea Bourke and her younger sister, Lilly, were savagely attacked this week at the home of their babysitter, Lorraine O'Donnell, The Daily Telegraph (Australia) said in its Saturday edition.

Parr said O'Donnell, who owned the dogs, suffered a heart attack while attempting to save the young girls from the suddenly enraged animals.

"Nothing would have stopped Lorrie from helping those two little girls if she could," Parr said of O'Donnell, who was recovering in a hospital days after the vicious attack.

No reason for the dogs' violent behaviors was reported, nor were the condition of O'Donnell and Lilly Bourke.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph said the government has begun attempting to stop such deadly dog attacks, accusing some local councils of not reporting all dog attacks as required.