Attack on pet, break-in at Gunn has family wanting to flee Northern Territory

‘Not a safe place to raise a family anymore’: Only 15-months-old, puppy Luna has been left bruised by what has been labelled as an ‘disgusting’ alleged attack in Palmerston. Find out more.

A McGowan Place property at Gunn was allegedly broken into on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

A 15-month-old dog has suffered bruising after being allegedly brutally attacked in a Palmerston break-in.

At about 2.15pm on Saturday, police received reports of unlawful entry and theft at a McGowan Place property in Gunn, NT Police alleged.

An NT Police spokeswoman said the Gunn resident also reported their dog Luna, a 15-month-old boxer, was allegedly attacked and suffered bruising and swelling.

Luna’s owner, who chose to remain anonymous, said after more than two decades in the Territory, it was “not a safe place to raise a family anymore”.

“After 25 years in Darwin and Palmerston we have had enough,” they said.

Luna, the 15-month-old boxer, was allegedly attacked in a break-in at Gunn on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

“We are seeing non stop car theft, break and enters, violent attacks on businesses and employees, violent attacks on first responders, killings, attacks and killing of family pets, it is not a safe place to raise a family anymore.

“The bashing of our dog, the needless destruction of our property and the theft of all we treasured it’s just too much – I have nothing but hate left for the perpetrators.

“Now we will be looking to leave Darwin.”

NT Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing.

“Anyone with information is urged to contact police and quote NTP2500001625,” the police spokeswoman said.

RSPCA NT operations manager Charles Giliam said the incident was “sickening”.

“I am horrified to hear this, we find this sort of thing absolutely abhorrent,“ he said.

“[This incident] is sickening and inexcusable.”

Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the “vicious, disgusting” attack on a family pets was “heartbreaking”.

“For eight years, Labor allowed crime to escalate to crisis levels with Territorians paying the price for Labor’s failures,” she said.

“The CLP government is working every day to rebuild the Territory and make it a safer, prosperous place.”

A spokeswoman from the department that oversees Animal Welfare NT said they take the animal welfare seriously, and urged the public to report any matters to animal welfare.