Owner watches pet dog Billie get attacked at Islington dog park

A dog owner said he thought his pet was ‘going to die’ as he watched another dog try and rip him apart, during an attack at Islington dog park.

Dog Billie had to get a tube in his neck after another dog attacked him

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Dog attacks throughout the Hunter are becoming all too common, with another vicious mauling at Islington Dog Park.

The owner of the dog attacked said he thought his pet was ‘going to die’ as he watched another dog callously try and rip him apart, as it latched on and wouldn’t let go for several long minutes.

Micah Lambert, his fiance April and dog Billie, a two-year-old Border Collie, had just been at a cafe and decided to take a walk down to the local dog park on Friday, October 4.

But that decision turned out to be a frightening one when Billie was attacked from behind by another dog at the park.

Injury to dog Billie after another dog attacked it at Islington dog park

Dog Billie had to get a tube in his neck after another dog attacked him

The dog came over started growling at Billie and within 10 seconds, it attacked him from behind. It grabbed him on the back of the neck,” Mr Lambert said

“Five women — other dog owners — then came over as April my finance was screaming for help because she couldn’t separate them.

Dog Billie and owner April (right) at the Islington dog park

“It had a lockjaw and wouldn’t let go. I tried to pull the dog off Billie but I had no success. It was pretty traumatic.”

The owner then came over and grabbed his dog by the legs to try and pull it back, while other people were doing what they could to try and get the dog to release Billie.

“When he pulled his dog, it would also drag my dog and my fiance along the ground,” Mr Lambert said.

“People tried to hit it with their fists, or hold its collar and choke it a little bit, but the owner kept saying don’t do that because it would get it more agitated and it would be less likely to let go.

Two people were injured trying to assist in a dog attack at Islington dog park

Two people were injured trying to assist in a dog attack at Islington dog park

“I was quite scared of it injuring me because I’m a musician and my hands are really important.

“It managed to bite two other people who got puncture wounds and bled quite a bit.

“A woman who had hold of the dog’s collar, when she let it go it started thrashing like Billie was a chew toy, so she had to hold it back.”

After minutes of trying to get the dog to let go, it finally released.

“I bundled my dog in my arms and got it to a vet,” Mr Lambert said.

“If this dog got back into my dog he probably wouldn’t have survived. Luckily he did survive through the situation.”

Billie the dog is now recovering after the attack and is doing well

But the scars remain for Billie, who was rushed to the vet after the incident and had to have a pipe installed in his neck to drain the wound. Vet bills so far have cost in excess of $1250.

Mr Lambert, who has reported the attack to police and council rangers, is considering taking legal action against the dog owner, who he said showed no remorse for what had happened.

“It was like it was a normal thing,” he said.

“Dog parks need to be a safe place for people with dogs and people with their kids.

“It took my dog getting attacked to find out that dog parks are less safe than they should be.

“The amount of sad stories that I’ve heard really made me re-evaluate, that the current system we have is not deterring the owners who have dogs, that think it’s ok for dogs to fight each other.

“The current laws need enforcing better. If you have a dog with an aggressive temperament, you don’t take it to an off lead park, keep it on a lead or muzzle it.”

Newcastle City Council said the matter was currently under investigation.