Aurukun's dogs 'desperately' need food

Starving dogs will receive a food handout after their owners fled the area following riots in the Cape York community of Aurukun.

SeaDog vets say more than a quarter of the dogs in the remote Queensland community are "desperately in need of food" after people fled following the New Year's Day riots.

A pallet of donated food will be taken from Cairns to the community on Tuesday.

It will be given to a local animal manager working to help the dogs left behind, SeaDog said.

"In crisis situations owners are left with no other option but to leave animals and go immediately," the Cooktown-based vet service said.

The Aurukun Shire Council on Tuesday issued warnings about dog attacks in the town and urged residents to be aware of their surroundings.

"Despite ongoing responsible dog ownership and control promotion by Council, dog attacks occur too frequently," the statement read.

There were 217 dogs in Aurukun, according to an audit from October 2019.

There are 71 dogs registered in Aurukun, according to minutes from a December council meeting.

A month earlier the council noted a "rise in dogs having extensive burns, from hot water being poured over them".

"Animal owners have been encouraged to come forward if an animal has been injured," council minutes from November 2019 read.

About 450 people, or almost one-third of the town's population, fled amid violence where homes were torched following the fatal stabbing of a man earlier this month.

Two teens have been charged with murder.

Almost two weeks ago, Mayor Dereck Walpo called for those who left for neighbouring areas to return.

He said "the community needs anger and retaliations to stop".

It is understood a number of people have chosen not to return.

The government has called in community leaders to lead negotiation talks following the unrest.