Denise Brooks speaks of dog Nina’s trauma after attack at North Shore beach

A Sunshine Coast dog owner has revealed her distress over a mauling on a popular beach that left her pooch with a massive neck gash and cost thousands in vet bills.

Twin Waters resident Denise Brooks has said her dog Nina has been left traumatised after it was viciously attacked by another dog at a local beach. Picture: Contributed

A Twin Waters woman has detailed her pooch’s trauma after it was latched on to by a passing dog at a popular off-leash beach.

Denise Brooks has been looking after her five-year-old staffy Nina since Sunday after the blue Staffordshire Terrier suffered a large gash to its neck in a dog attack.

Ms Brooks said her companion was walking Nina with a harness along North Shore off leash dog beach about 5.20pm when the pup went for a friendly sniff near two approaching dogs walking with their owners.

Ms Brooks said everything changed in a matter of seconds when one of the dogs “latched” on to Nina’s neck and would not let go.

She said her companion and the other dog owners attempted to unleash the perpetrator dog off their beloved Nina as it tightened its grip until it finally let go after five long minutes.

Nina’s stitched up wound after the attack.

Nina and Ms Brooks in happier times.

Her companion rushed Nina into the surf to wash off the wound while the couple left the beach with their two dogs without exchanging details.

What remained was a large gash in Nina’s neck in what Ms Brooks called an “unprovoked” and “nasty fight” with her friendly dog.

The treatment to Nina has now left her with thousands of dollars in veterinary bills.

Speaking on Thursday, with Nina by her side at home, Ms Brooks said it was a “really vicious” attack at her favourite beach on the Sunshine Coast.

“I was in shock,” Ms Brooks said.

“I’ve seen dogs have a bit of a go at each other, like humans some people don’t like each other.

Nina loves her days at the beach.

She’s currently recovering at home.

“Nina will always go ‘yeah bugger you, I want to play, I don’t want a fight. I’m a lover not a fighter’.”

Ms Brooks said they took Nina to the vet to treat the “very deep wound” in the staffy’s neck and was warned of an “iceberg effect” the cut could have, due to the threat of infections.

The vet drained the wound and gave her medication to allow Nina to be taken to her regular vet on Monday, where she was stitched up and given pain relief.

Ms Brooks said her pooch was on track to a full recovery but wished dog owners would train their pets to respond to commands and socialise with other animals if they were going to visit an off-leash beach.

She hoped owners would also have identification features on their dog’s collars like Nina’s and used better harnesses in case of dire situations.

“I love that beach, and we love it, and we live here because of that beach, and I don’t want to move because of that,” Ms Brooks said.

“If they shut that beach we will probably sell up and move, we love it.

“People just need to train their dogs … it makes a big difference.”

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said the attack was reported on Friday and was being investigated.

“If you witnessed the attack or have any information which may assist the investigation, please contact Council on 5475 7272,” the spokeswoman said.

“Council takes community safety seriously and requests that all dog attacks are reported - even where a party’s details may be unknown.”