Woman lashes out at Norwood Council after Glynde dog attack

An Adelaide council has been blasted as “dismissive” after two larger dogs mauled and nearly killed a smaller dog when they got loose in a suburban street.

Chey Laine with Sid, a maltese-silky terrier cross, recovering after the attack in Glynde. Picture: Dean Martin

A woman whose small dog was nearly killed by two larger, loose dogs has lashed out at her local council over its “dismissive” response to the traumatic incident.

Chey Laine, 67, was walking down a street in Glynde around 11:30am in late December when her silky-maltese cross was set upon by two much bigger dogs who had left their ower’s property.

Within a few seconds, one of the dogs had grabbed Ms Wotton’s nine-year-old silkese, Sid.

Sid lost all of his teeth except three in the attack. Picture: Supplied

Chey Laine and her dog Sid, who is recovering after he was almost killed in late December last year by a larger dog. Picture: Dean Martin

“I heard my dog scream,” Ms Laine said. “I turned around and it was getting flung, 180 degrees back and forth over this dog’s head. That dog went at my dog like prey.”

Ms Laine said the attacking dogs weren’t “properly secured” in their yard.

“They have a gate on the side of their house that is used as a thoroughfare. It’s just a latch,” she said.

Three council workers nearby witnessed the event unfold and immediately rushed to help, trying to stop the attack.

“They were using whatever tools they had to bang on their truck to try and stop the dogs,” Ms Laine said.

With Sid’s life hanging on by a thread, one of the workers at the scene drove Ms Laine to the vet, repeatedly calling the Norwood Payneham & St Peters (NPSP) Council on the way.

According to Ms Laine, the council failed to pick up the phone for more than 20 minutes.

“The whole situation - in particular with the council - has been dismissive,” she stated.

“Where were you? Where were you when the phone calls started ringing in with people needing your help?”

The injuries Sid sustained in the horrifying attack. Picture: Supplied

Ms Laine confirmed the other owners had offered to pay for all her vet bills.

The NPSP Council has told the Advertiser it is aware of the incident and is investigating.

“The council is currently investigating the incident and is liasing with the other owners of the dogs who are co-operating and assisting with this process,” a spokeswoman said.

“It is important to note that these dogs are registered with another council and we have advised that council of the incident.”

But Ms Laine said her complaints hadn’t been taken seriously by NPSP Council, saying it had been “extremely evasive”.

She said it hadn’t taken enough steps to properly ensure the dogs are secured, leaving her fearing they could escape again.

“There are children riding bikes, women walking their babies in prams,” she said.

As a result of the attack, Sid was on sedation medication and antibiotics for more than a month, with the vet noting a “high risk of infection”.

“He has also lost all (of his) teeth except three so his food has also had to change,” Ms Laine said.

Sid’s customary “happy, confident, waggy” persona has changed, she said.

“He was like a social butterfly with other dogs,” Ms Laine said. “Now he is very anxious and it hurts deeply to see my lil’ buddy like this.”

The owners of the other dogs were contacted for comment.

Originally published as Woman lashes out at Norwood Council after Glynde dog attack