Dogs storm into Salisbury North property and attack pet chihuahua
A family were left with an agonising $20,000 choice after the mauling of their beloved chihuahua. Here’s how they’re going now.
North & North East
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The condition of a tiny pet chihuahua mauled last week at Salisbury North by two dogs who stormed into her front yard has been updated.
The Salisbury North pup, named Estelle, was attacked by two random dogs believed to be shar-peis.
They left her with four broken ribs and deep lacerations – and her owners with the choice between a $20,000 vet bill for surgery or putting her down.
Following days in a tentative condition at the vet and mounting costs for her treatment, Estelle returned to her family home nursing serious injuries but recovering slowly.
Estelle’s owners mother, who did not want to be named, told The Messenger the extent of the tiny pup’s injuries were significant.
Vets operated to stitch up deep gouges from bites and her diaphragm was ripped off the abdominal wall during the attack.
Salisbury Council on Thursday afternoon confirmed the two responsible dogs had been seized and were being held while an investigation took place.
Dashcam footage shows the dog’s family trying to desperately scare the attackers away – one owner sprawled on the ground to stop one of the dogs.
The video then shows a young child and her mother rushing back inside the house to help their critically injured seven-year-old pup.
A man in the video in the orange shirt is not thought to be the dogs’ owner.
The family immediately rushed Estelle to an emergency small animal vet where she was in a critical condition for hours before finally being upgraded to stable.
The owner’s mother had come out to greet her when she arrived at the house, before the horror unfolded.
“There was another chihuahua at the front door with our five-year-old granddaughter who was screaming uncontrollably,” she said.
“This could have been our granddaughter who came out to meet us after we pulled up.”
She said the attacking dogs were relentless.
“My husband was pulling at the back on its tail and legs and on the back of its neck,” she said.
“My daughter was trying to get it to release Estelle out of its mouth by putting her hand in its mouth and I clung on to a choker chain it had on, pulling its head up and twisting it trying to make it release her.
“After the attack the other dog was circling behind and to the side of our car most probably because two little Jack Russell cross Maltese dogs were in there.”
The attack was reported to SA Police.
SA Police said Salisbury Council was “handling” the matter.
A spokeswoman for the council confirmed officers “attended” a dog attack incident and were in the process of “taking a statement from the victims to assist in the investigation and inform any further action”.
“Council will consider further action following the findings of the investigation,” she said.
“Possible outcomes can include fines and/or orders on the dogs to prevent repeat behaviours.”
It was unclear when the investigation would be finalised.
The chihuahua’s owners initially took to social media to appeal for information about who the attacking dogs belonged to.
It was understood they were aware the owner had been tracked down about 1pm on Thursday.
A fundraiser was set up to help raise enough money to get a cat scan for Estelle to examine the extent of her injuries.
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