Everything changed for Neal Alexander when he agreed to look after his friend’s dog at her home in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs.
The business owner, 46, said he would mind Wendy Ho’s Akita, called Hachi, under the condition the dog – which had attacked two strangers years earlier – wore a muzzle.
But a few hours into the pet-sitting shift, Mr Alexander noticed Hachi was growing agitated and contacted Ms Ho, asking her to come and pick her pet up.
Ms Ho, a 55-year-old optometrist, bundled her dog into the back of her car and removed the muzzle, but as they were driving off, Hachi jumped out of the Land Rover’s back window and savaged Mr Alexander.
The attack, which occurred in April 2020, left him in hospital for a week with serious wounds to his arm and back.
Ms Ho had Hachi put down and was fined $1,320 for owning a dangerous dog.
Neal Alexander (pictured) suffered horrific injuries to his wrist and torso after being mauled by his friend’s dog in April 2020
Mr Alexander had agreed to mind the Akita, Hachi, for his friend Wendy Ho. Ms Ho is pictured outside court in 2021
Seven-year-old Hachi (pictured) savaged Neal Alexander at Bondi Junction after he jumping out of Ms Ho’s Land Rover. Akitas are a powerfully-built breed of dog originating from the mountainous regions of northern Japan trained to hunt elks, wild boar and brown bear
Almost three years later, the bitter feud between the former friends was back before the courts after Ms Ho pressed charges of stalking and wilful damage against Mr Alexander over a clash at her Bondi Junction clinic on 30 March, 2022.
Magistrate Ross Hudson said the case had a ‘bit of an unusual history’, telling the court the current matter needed to be considered within the context of the pair’s history.
‘Upon Ms Ho getting into the car [with Hachi], Mr Alexander has put up his hand to wave goodbye and the dog has latched his wrist,’ Magistrate Hudson said on Friday, February 24.
‘The dog mauled his kidney and stomach area and he required a number of stitches for his wrist and stomach. Approximately eight to ten.
‘It is then said a number of things happened in his life there after.’
Magistrate Hudson said Mr Alexander had difficulties coping with his injuries, which continue to cause him issues.
In the backdrop of his recovery, the Covid pandemic hit and his housemates moved out, leaving him to pay the rent on his own.
Mr Alexander previously told Daily Mail Australia Ms Ho attempted to pull Hachi off him but was at first unable to do so because of her small stature and the dog’s large size. Witnesses called Triple Zero. Mr Alexander’s gruesome wrist injury is pictured
Mr Alexander’s injuries (pictured) were so severe he spent a week in hospital followed by six more as an outpatient. He still struggles with pain and suffers from PTSD
Charges against Mr Alexander over a confrontation at Wendy Ho Optique in Bondi Junction last year were dismissed. Pictured are the motorised doors at the front of the store that were damaged
Unable to work due to his injuries and Covid, Mr Alexander moved into his parents house for financial and recovery support and began seeking medical help for PTSD and depression.
Meanwhile, charges were brought against Ms Ho for possessing a dangerous animal and Mr Alexander was required to go to court on 30 March in 2022 to give evidence.
Anticipating the stress of the hearing, Magistrate Hudson said Mr Alexander had called to try and schedule an appointment with his GP for that morning, but could only get in at about 2pm.
After being cross-examined at Sydney Downing Centre, Mr Hudson said that Mr Alexander was ‘really upset and confused’ and decided to stop by Ms Ho’s clinic – Wendy Ho Optique – on the way to his doctor’s appointment nearby.
‘He’s just been in giving evidence, relaying the injuries, his recovery… he says the cross examination is over the top,’ Magistrate Hudson said.
‘About 1.23pm, he goes into the optometrist’s. It has a glass motorised sliding door. He aggressively pushed it against the frame, and it has dislodged and was ajar.
‘He has approached her at the service desk, she has raised her arms in fear to do with his action.
Hachi was put down following the attack. The dog is pictured in Mr Alexander’s home
‘He has said something in an aggressive tone – but she is unable to recall what he said. He says that it was an attempt to say hi. She has called security and he has left.’
Magistrate Hudson noted the ordeal had started with Mr Alexander doing a favour for a friend and, along with Covid and financial troubles, has resulted in the deterioration of his mental health.
Taking into consideration that the incident was at the ‘lower end’ of offending, Magistrate Hudson said he believed a long-term treatment plan would be the most appropriate solution and dismissed the charges.
Under the conditions, Mr Alexander must not consume alcohol for three months and must continue to access his health care providers for psychological and medical treatment.
Magistrate Hudson praised Mr Alexander for realising the 2022 court hearing would be stressful and for seeking help, but urged him to exercise more control in the future.
‘You have a journey to overcome what happened to you that day and continue your treatment,’ he said.
‘Unusually, what you did on this morning was the right thing. You contacted your treater, but unfortunately they were not available until 2pm.
‘But in the future, you can control what you do and say.’
