Family raises support for dog mauling victim as park death probe continues

October 20, 2026 — 5:14pmFamily and friends of Brisbane real estate agent mauled while jogging on Friday evening have banded together to support the 37-year-old, as a probe into a death in the same park prompts calls over dog attack legislation.Ajay Malik suffered serious injuries to his arms, legs, and face about 6pm on Friday when he was set upon by two bulldog-crosses during a run through Chermside’s 7th Brigade Park.Real estate agent Ajay Malik pictured in hospital after he was attacked by two dogs while jogging in Chermside, in Brisbane’s north.Family friend Aryan Sirohi launched a fundraising campaign for Malik and his wife, writing that Malik will be unable to work for a long time.“What should have been an ordinary evening became a frightening, life-changing experience. Ajay now faces a long recovery, both physically and emotionally,” Sirohi said about the attack in the fundraiser.“Ajay is a friend, a family member and a valued part of our community, and no one should face something like this alone.”On Tuesday, Malik remained in the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital undergoing treatment.Ajay Malik, 37, suffered serious injuries after being attacked by two bulldog-crosses in a Chermside park.Facebook / Ajay MalikTwo days after Malik was attacked, a council worker discovered what police initially described as a decomposing body in bushland within the expansive Chermside parkland.Initial investigations revealed the man – a 48-year-old who had been sleeping rough in the 7th Brigade Park – had likely died on Friday.Although initial investigations indicated there was no link to the animals that attacked Malik, on Monday evening Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said police could no longer rule out a connection “due to the body’s state of decomposition”.Police had captured both animals by Saturday morning, and remained in the custody of Brisbane City Council over the weekend.Their owner, Layla Evans, was arrested on unrelated charges on Saturday and held in the Brisbane Watchhouse.By Tuesday, she was released, but council retained the dogs.While held in custody, Evans was served a destruction order for her two pets.Before she was arrested on Saturday, she told Nine News the dogs were protective of her but had never been aggressive, and had escaped from the tent she lived in.On Tuesday, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Brisbane City Council had increased its presence at the park amid a “heightened awareness” of dog attacks.He said the situation was continuing to evolve as police investigated the death of the 48-year-old found on Sunday, which left the two bulldog-crosses fates uncertain.Under Queensland legislation, an owner would have a 14-day window to either surrender a dog to the council for euthanasia, or appeal the order.The Lord Mayor said the council was notified earlier this year about the dogs when they were reported as having been abandoned.“There were no complaints about safety – or no complaints about those dogs being dangerous – and it was a shock to all of us that this happened,” Schrinner said.Premier David Crisafulli said the state “should always look at ways that we can improve the system” when asked if laws relating to managing dangerous dogs should be reviewed.Police Minister Dan Purdie said the state would review laws if it was needed after police investigated the death of a 48-year-old near the site of a dog mauling that same day.Catherine StrohfeldtPolice Minister Dan Purdie echoed this view, saying the government would consider reviewing the laws if recommended by the investigation into the 48-year-old’s death.“If enforcement agencies come to me, or come to us, and say they need tougher laws … we’re happy to work with those councils or agencies, whatever it is, to make sure they’ve got what they need to keep people safe,” Purdie said.The Lord Mayor said fewer than 1 per cent of Brisbane’s more than 100,000 dogs were reported to the council.“We have a whole range of officers that are involved in responding to complaints about dogs … there are 56 people in our team right across the city,” he said.The Department of Primary Industries last updated protocol concerning the destruction of dangerous dogs in December 2025.Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.More:Animal attacksChermsideBrisbaneCity councilAdrian SchrinnerDavid CrisafulliFrom our partners