Christine Henry’s miniature pony mauled to death by dogs at Logan

A Logan family is reeling after their beautiful miniature pony was mauled to death by dogs, which are yet to be caught. WARNING: Graphic

Tiny Sunny – a miniature pony – was mauled to death by dogs. Picture: Supplied.

A Logan family is reeling after their beautiful miniature pony was mauled to death by dogs, with the four-legged killers still out there.

The killing is the latest horrific outcome following a spate of deadly canine attacks in the region.

When Logan Reserve grandmother Christine Henry ducked into town on December 7, she could not begin to imagine the bloody scene she would come home to.

As Ms Henry drove home about 3.30pm on Wednesday, she noticed something unusual.

“Along the fence-line I could see my paint horse Tobias looking at something and neighing and carrying on … you could tell he was quite distressed by something,” she said.

“As I got closer I thought a wild animal like maybe a deer had been attacked.

“My heart dropped when I realised it was baby girl Sunny, our miniature pony.”

Sunny was mauled to death by dogs at Logan. She is pictured with her paddock mate Tobias, a paint horse. Picture: Supplied.

Ms Henry said the eight-hand tall rescue miniature pony was a beloved family pet and especially popular with her grandchildren.

“She was just the sweetest soul … she was about 20 years old, my little old lady,” Ms Henry said.

“Sunny is pure white but you couldn’t see any of her coat the way they’d savaged her.

“She was in an awful condition and obviously dead.

“She was covered in blood and had been mauled and ripped apart in so many places … they had attacked her pretty face, her legs, on her head and her rear.

“They’d even ripped out all of her tail and mane.

“But it was just an attack … they didn’t even eat her … just ripped her apart and left her there to die.

“She was savaged. It was just horrible to see. My little baby didn’t stand a chance.”

Sunny was mauled to death by dogs at Logan. Picture – supplied.

Due to the nature of the attack, Ms Henry was sure it was more than one dog.

“We have never seen unknown dogs on our property,” she said.

“I’ve been here 12 years and my husband about 26 years.

“It’s just heartbreaking.

“I really loved her so much. She was just a delight.

“The other horses are stressed and upset by it.

“They keep going over to where she was and neighing.”

The Henry family with their miniature pony Sunny. The pony was mauled to death by dogs at Logan. Picture: Supplied.

The incident follows a fatal dog attack on a meter-reader at Greenbank earlier this month, a Moreton man speaking out about a horrifying dog attack that killed his puppy in his own backyard in October, a tiny puppy that was being trained to act as a support dog in aged care homes being mauled to death by a larger dog at a Gold Coast dog park in September as well as a woman being attacked by a dog in Dalby in November and in August, a woman in her 60s and her three-year-old granddaughter were mauled by their two pet Mastiffs at their Algester home.

According to data from October this year, when it came to the last 12 months of dog attacks across South East Queensland Inala recorded the most attacks in Brisbane, double that of Bracken Ridge, which came in second.

Southport on the Gold Coast topped the local list with 55 attacks, while in Ipswich, Goodna and Redbank Plains were equal first place holders with 36 attacks each.

In the Redlands the highest number of attacks, 21, were recorded at Victoria Point.

Logan and Sunshine Coast councils were unable to provide a suburban data breakdown, but recorded 541 and 434 attacks respectively across their entire council areas in the past year.

Ms Henry said something needed to be done about the out-of-control animals.

“We’ve got a dog ourselves and horses, we feed the magpies and the frilly lizards … we love animals and we love nature but whatever did this is just wrong,” she said.

“They’re never going to be friendly or okay

“They’re just killers. Their instinct is to kill.”

Christine Henry says something needs to be done about savage dogs in Logan. Picture: Supplied.

“I want to feel safe in my own home and neighbourhood and for my animals to feel safe,” she said.

“I want to see kids playing in their yards and for pet animals to be out and about without the fear of dogs attacking like this.”

Ms Henry said they reported the matter to Logan City Council and were pleased with how council had dealt with it.

A Logan City Council spokesperson said it promoted responsible pet ownership and had zero-tolerance for dogs being kept in a way that might compromise the safety of the community.

“Any person who allows their dog to attack people or animals risks facing strict animal-keeping restrictions, fines and prosecution,” they said.

“Council attended a Logan Reserve address about 6pm on Wednesday, December 7 in response to a reported incident where a pony had been fatally attacked.

“The pony had injuries which appeared to correspond with a dog attack however there were no witnesses.

“The pony owner reported seeing two stray dogs on her property two weeks ago. Council installed two trail cameras in the area along with a humane animal trap. Surrounding properties were also doorknocked and Council patrols were increased in the area to ensure ongoing community safety and these will continue.

“If the dogs involved can be identified or caught, Council will take swift and appropriate action to ensure public safety.”

The spokesperson also said the council was working with a recently formed task force reviewing the Queensland Government’s Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

“This review aims to promote greater levels of public safety through a reform of the legislation responsible for managing dangerous dogs within the community.

“Council will continue to advocate for tougher dangerous dog legislation, as well as sharing with relevant stakeholders all information relating to the location of regulated menacing or dangerous dogs in the City of Logan.”