Maire in south-west France orders euthanasia of dog that attacked mother and daughter

The mayor of a town near Toulouse has ordered the euthanasia of a Labrador crossbreed dog that bit a woman and her daughter.

The incident took place in Cugnaux, Haute-Garonne, on April 15, when the two were walking to school.

Despite being on a lead the dog escaped its owner who was unable to catch it.

The mother filed a complaint with the Cugnaux gendarmerie, and a veterinary examination was carried out to determine the causes of the dog’s actions, with the report concluding that only euthanasia could prevent the risk of a repeat.

The decision can only be taken by the municipality, “which was necessary in the interest of the safety of residents and the victims’ family,” La Dépêche reported the Cugnaux mayor Aurélien Andreu-Seigné as saying.

Mr Andreu-Seigné signed the order for the dog to be euthanised on April 28.

In France, decisions regarding animal euthanasia are subject to strict veterinary and legal frameworks, and may be taken on medical, regulatory, or public safety grounds, depending on the circumstances of each case.