Pet dog mauled to death by Staffies near Winstanley Rd and Aldford St, Carindale

A routine early morning walk has ended in disaster after a woman aged in her 70s was attacked while walking pet dogs, leaving one dead and her neighbour’s seriously injured.

One dog has been left with serious injuries. Picture: Supplied

A terrifying dog attack in Brisbane’s south has left one dog dead and another with serious injuries as the grieving owners plead for council to crackdown on punishments.

Theresa Koschanowski has walked her elderly neighbour Gillian (Jill) Kearney’s dog Patty for several years alongside her own pup Lilly.

She was on her usual route about 4am on Wednesday when she was attacked on the corner of Winstanley Rd and Aldford St near Westfield Carindale.

“I didn’t even notice them, but these two American Staffies just come out of nowhere. One got my dog, Lilly, and the other got Patty, and there’s just me and two little dogs with two big dogs, and I couldn’t get them out of their jaws,” Ms Koschanowski said.

Patty who sadly died after being mauled by two dogs on his morning walk. Picture: Supplied

Aged in her late 70s herself, Ms Koschanowski tried to fight off the two dogs and was bitten in the process on the elbow.

After a few minutes of struggle she was able to grab Lilly and place her in a nearby shopping trolley, however Patty – a small, fox-terrier cross, remained in the clutches of the two “ferocious” dogs.

“He got out of his harness (leash), and he took off, and when he took off both the other dogs chased him, so I chased them, and I was screaming for help,” she said.

“There were people across the road that must have heard and they came out and this went on for about 10 minutes before we managed to … scare them off.

“But poor old Patty, he was in a really bad way.”

Lilly is a Chihuahua cross. Picture: Supplied

Both dogs were driven to the emergency vet where, sadly, they were unsuccessful in saving Patty who died on Wednesday night.

Lilly was forced to undergo emergency surgery, with stitches lining her stomach, neck and thigh, as well as bite marks on both back legs and under her throat.

While she is at home now, vets have warned Ms Koschanowski that her dogs condition could worsen and would need continuous check-ups.

“I don’t know whether she’s going to make it, she’s still not out of the woods, and I’ve just got to wait and see.

“But had it not been for those neighbours coming out, Patty would have died, Lily would have died, and I’d have been mauled to death, I’m sure of it. They were vicious, they were big,” she said.

Lilly's injuries have left her in a serious condition. Picture: Supplied

“I feel so guilty for Jill, for losing Patty, and for Lily the way she’s suffering, but there was nothing I could do, I tried everything. I kicked them, I hit them, and nothing worked, they just grabbed hold of the dogs and just wouldn’t let go.”

Ms Koschanowski said she is too scared to walk her normal route, and would not feel safe to do so until the dogs were caught.

Overcome by grief for her “best friend” Ms Kearney, 81, said she was devastated by Patty’s loss after only adopting him three years ago.

“I hope we find the owners, because I think they are responsible for letting those dogs out, or allowing them to get out and they murdered my dog and he was only little,” Ms Kearney said.

Patty with one of Sarah Schwartz's dogs Boo who is a mastiff. Picture: Supplied

“He was my best friend, my companion, and he gave me something to live for because I’m older … he was wonderful, everyone loved him.”

“He didn’t deserve to die like that.”

The pair, with the help of their neighbour Sarah Schwartz have urged the community to share any CCTV footage in the area, as well as to raise funds for the dog owners.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help Ms Kearney and Ms Koschanowski who – both on a pension – incurred vet costs of $3000 and more than $4500 respectively.

This was the fourth attack in the area according to Ms Schwartz whose German Shepard was “mauled in the back” while her partner was attacked in a separate incident five months ago.

Patty with one of Sarah Schwartz's dogs Boo. Picture: Supplied

“The irresponsible owners, even the ones that have unfortunately taken Patty’s life … they’re never going to have to cop anything for it, they don’t get consequences, even if they’re found they might have to just register their dog as dangerous,” she said.

“It’s just quite scary, I’m too scared to walk my dogs, and I’ve got big dogs, and they’re so calm and gentle and friendly, but I’m too scared to walk them now. We have to drive out to, like a broad walk.”

Ms Koschanowski said she immediately contacted Brisbane City Council on Wednesday, but she said she hasn’t heard back from them since yesterday where they took her details.

Council’s City Standards Chair Sarah Hutton said it was aware of and investigating the “heartbreaking incident”.

“This was a heartbreaking incident and my heart goes out to the owners of the dogs who were viciously attacked,” she said.

“We take any report of an animal attack incredibly seriously. Council was contacted about a dog attack in Carindale at 4am on Wednesday and immediately dispatched officers to investigate.

“This investigation remains underway and I would ask anyone with information to please contact council.”

According to Council data, animal attacks in Brisbane had risen from 1359 in 2022 to 1468 in 2023.

Originally published as Pet dog mauled to death by Staffies near Winstanley Rd and Aldford St, Carindale