Alpaca put down after dog attack

AN alpaca that was mauled by neighbouring dogs on Monday evening was attacked again yesterday and injured so badly it had to be put down.

Rocky the alpaca had to be put down after it was attacked a second time by dogs. Picture: Submitted

AN alpaca that was mauled by neighbouring dogs on Monday evening was attacked again yesterday and injured so badly it had to be put down.

The dog responsible for the attack has also now been destroyed.

Julie Wilkinson, of Alloway, said when she went to give her injured alpaca its medicine yesterday she found it had been mauled again.

“The dog had broken into the enclosure where it was for safekeeping,” she said.

“I spoke to the owners and they said they let the dog off its chain for a run.”

Mrs Wilkinson said her alpaca’s leg was ripped open in the attack and the bone was exposed.

She called out a vet, who said the animal could not be saved.

“I have complained about that dog three times this week,” Mrs Wilkinson said.

Mrs Wilkinson said she had spoken to the owner of the dog, but he had told her he had no money and was not going to pay any compensation.

She said she had given the owner of the dog, a bull Arab mastiff, the responsibility of dealing with the alpaca’s carcass.

“It’s just not good enough when you have to complain about dogs attacking your animals,” she said.

“It could be a child next.

“There’s a children’s playground and sports field close by with kids running around.”

Mrs Wilkinson said she was disappointed the council had not taken action earlier.

The distraught property owner now has only one alpaca left.

“You can’t have one alpaca; they’re flock animals,” she said.

“I will either have to get rid of the one I’ve got or get another one.”

Councillor Mary Wilkinson said she was distressed about the incident.

“It’s just been a terrible tragedy all round,” she said.

After receiving a complaint from Ms Wilkinson, animal control officers went to the Alloway property where the owners surrendered the dog responsible for the attack.

Originally published as Alpaca put down after dog attack