An approach was made to the department’s media section in Melbourne to get comment on the circumstances of what happened at the Towong racecourse, an apparent increasing brashness by wild dogs and whether a dogman would be deployed in the area.

A media spokeswoman said late yesterday that a senior adviser had to “sign off” on a statement but nothing was received.

Two Kilmore boys were attacked by wild dogs while inside swags when they were camping at the racecourse on Saturday night.

Ashley Thompson and Daniel Tripp, both 15, had dogs scratch at their swags as they lay inside.

One of the dogs was growling as it walked up Ashley’s back, stood on him and nudged at the back of his head.

Another dog tried to scratch through Daniel’s swag, which had Velcro at the top.

Ashley made a 000 emergency call seeking assistance.

Two police officers from Corryong were patrolling in the area and arrived a short time later.

Ashley’s grandfather, Kilmore horse trainer Norm Thompson, said the boys would have been in trouble if they had been unable to get through with the emergency call.

He has raised his concerns with the member for Benambra, Tony Plowman, and the member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Mr Thompson has an appointment tomorrow to see the member for Central Highlands, Robert Mitchell, at his office.

There have been increasing concerns in recent years about an escalating number of wild dogs.

The Department of Primary Industries has held three wild dog forums in the past couple of weeks at Bullioh, Eskdale and Corryong.

The department’s wild dog co-ordinator, John Turnbull, said yesterday eight landholders attended the forum at Corryong on Tuesday and they had “some good discussion”.

Thirty farmers have previously attended the meeting at Bullioh and eight at Eskdale.

“We are pretty happy with the way things are going,” Mr Turnbull said.

But he said there were on-going concerns over wild dogs in the Tallangatta Valley.

“That is always a problem spot.”