Animals killed, mauled by dogs

THE sound of her pet alpaca being mauled by her neighbour's dogs is not something Julie Wilkinson will soon forget.

Julie Wilkinson’s alpaca was attacked by dogs, just a day after she complained to the council about them. Picture: Submitted

THE sound of her pet alpaca being mauled by her neighbour’s dogs is not something Julie Wilkinson will soon forget.

The sound of her own dog barking alerted Ms Wilkinson to a problem on her Alloway property on Monday evening.

“I have never heard an animal scream like that,” she said.

“All of the animals were distressed and calling and crying. It was just horrific.”

Ms Wilkinson said this was not the first time her animals had been attacked by the dogs.

“I had two peahens killed and my jack russell terrier was attacked,” she said.

The culprits are two dogs belonging to her neighbours.

“They (the dogs) have been coming on to my property for a few months and I have approached them (the neighbours) and they said they would do something, but it’s still happening,” Ms Wilkinson said.

“They were disbelieving, but I have the photos to prove it. People see their pets as unoffending playmates but at night, and especially in packs, they are hunters.”

The damage bill will cost Ms Wilkinson thousands of dollars in replacement costs and vet bills, with one of her peahens valued at $900.

Council officers attended the scene on Monday afternoon and issued $300 in fines to the dogs’ owners.

Ms Wilkinson said she was disappointed the dog owners had needed to be fined for the attack after her repeated warnings.

“I even have dog wire around my property, but they still got in,” she said.

“I couldn’t get a vet out on Monday night so I sat with Rocky (the alpaca) through the night and he was in a lot of pain.”

The concerned pet owner is calling on others to restrain their animals.

“If dogs aren’t desexed, they will wander,” she said.

“People really need to have their animals registered as well. They just don’t understand that their animals can turn savage.”

Health and environmental services portfolio councillor Mary Wilkinson agreed.

“If dogs go on to farmland, the farmer has the right to protect their property,” she said.

“If dogs go on to residential allotments, the resident should contact council.”

Originally published as Animals killed, mauled by dogs