Devastated pet owners speak out after two more fatal dog attacks in the Top End
TWO more Top End pet owners have spoken of their devastation after their beloved animals were mauled to death in separate dog attacks, as community concern about dangerous dog management continues to grow.
Northern Territory
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TWO more Top End pet owners have spoken of their devastation after their beloved animals were mauled to death in separate dog attacks, as community concern about dangerous dog management continues to grow.
A Leanyer resident, who did not want to be named, said her five-year-old labrador Cooper had been mauled to death in his own backyard during a 30-minute attack several weeks ago, after two pitbulls from a neighbouring property burrowed underneath the fence of her property.
Her other labrador, Scooby, was also attacked, and sustained injuries so severe they required $6000 worth of surgery.
The woman, who was out when the attack happened, said the attack had been so vicious several neighbours who saw it were too afraid to intervene.
“It took 30 minutes … it was vicious. It was the most horrific, drawn-out death you could imagine,” she said.
“It’s devastating for our family. This is a pet that’s been this with us since it was pup, it’s a family member. And you’re talking about the most brutal murder of something that was completely preventable.”
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She said the pitbulls had been temporarily impounded but her family was still waiting for action after rangers informed them the it would take two months for the case to be investigated.
“It’s not good enough, especially for this type of an attack, to wait this long and still be told … that it may take 1-2 months,” she said
In another recent attack, a Virginia resident, who did not want to be named, said her 17-year-old cat Dusty had been mauled to death in front of her by a neighbour’s three large dogs when they entered her property last month.
Based on Dusty’s injuries, rangers told her it was one of the worst dog attacks they had ever seen.
The woman said rangers had since told her the dog’s owner “might” be fined several thousand dollars.
While she originally told the NT News she wanted the dogs’ owner to be heavily fined, she said her cats’ death had left her so devastated that she had to “let it go”.
“It’s upset me so much,” she said.
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The attacks come amid a community push for stronger laws to prevent people and animals from dog attacks in the NT, led by the organisers of recently formed Facebook group NT Dogs Laws.
Originally published as Devastated pet owners speak out after two more fatal dog attacks in the Top End
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