Beloved pet left with horrific injuries after dog attack

***WARNING, GRAPHIC IMAGE*** A Northern Rivers resident says there has been a spate of frightening dog attacks in the area.

NIMBIN resident Simone Allen has described her terror after an attack from an unleashed dog left her dog needing around the clock wound care.

Ms Allen recounted how she noticed a big mastiff on a recent walk, which she says was being leashed only by a scarf.

"I couldn't get away (from the mastiff's attack) as I had the two dogs, both on leads," she said.

"I could only spin around to try and give them space.

"I was shouting at (the other owner) to get her dog while she clawed at me and her animal."

"Once she managed to get her dog she pulled it off (my dog) Angela and stood holding its collar.

"I stared at her and asked if she was even going to apologise.

"She first asked if my dog was even bleeding and I told her that wasn't the point. … I broke down into tears. I was shaking and didn't know what to do."

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The incident left Angela requiring surgery and Ms Allen and her partner needing to provide constant care to ensure she heals properly.

Simone Allen's dog Angela had significant wounds after the attack.

 

Ms Allen said she had witnessed many similar incidents of dogs not being on leashes in the Nimbin area.

"There has been a spate of violent attacks on humans and animals," she said.

"My partner has also started to walk with me and the dogs in the morning to help ensure we are safe.

"Last week we saw a man dragging a dog up the street by its collar as he had no lead.

"When we told him to put it on a lead he started to shout homophobic slurs at us and threatened to release the dog on us."

Ms Allen said she believed until all dogs were on leads, the town would remain inaccessible to parts of the local community.

"My dog weighs 25kg, she's about the size of a young child and imagine if it had been a child," she said.

"I had actually decided not to go walk my dogs in town until I thought about how this issue actually makes our town inaccessible to people with assistance dogs and that is not right."

Lismore City Council's Manager Development & Compliance, Chris Watts, said the council was aware of the incident.

"Council is aware of the incident at Nimbin and is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding it," he said.

"While there has not been an increase in dog-related attacks, Council rangers were in Nimbin last week patrolling for unleashed dogs.

"This was both as a precautionary measure and to educate the public about the need to keep their dogs on leashes."