Leopold family’s two dogs mauled in horror backyard attack

A Leopold family has been left heartbroken after their two dogs were mauled in their own backyard by a pair of rottweilers.

Leopold dogs Marley and Leni were mauled in their own backyard by a pair of rottweilers on Tuesday August 27, 2024. Marley was killed in the attack.

A Leopold family’s beloved pomeranian pup was mauled to death and their bulldog left critically injured after they were attacked by two rottweilers in their own backyard.

Mother of three Jess Thurston arrived home after school pick-up on Tuesday and found her pomeranian Marley and Australian bulldog Leni had been mauled.

Ms Thurston said two rottweilers from a neighbouring property had dug under the fence to get into her backyard.

She said the dogs had also got into her property on Sunday.

“I walked in through the garage door on Tuesday and I saw one of the rottweilers and my heart just dropped,” Ms Thurston said.

“I ran to the backdoor to look for my dogs and Leni was cowered in the corner and covered in blood.

“The rottweilers were roaming around like nothing had happened.”

Australian bulldog Leni was critically injured in the attack on Tuesday.

Ms Thurston and her daughter then locked the rottweilers in the garage so they could tend to their injured pups.

“I went over to (Marley) to see if she was okay but I could clearly see she was gone,” Ms Thurston said.

“We tried to get Leni inside but she was bleeding everywhere.”

The family called police and Geelong council while Ms Thurston then rushed Leni to the emergency vet in Newtown in a critical condition.

She said Leni’s neck had been “ripped open” and her back and hind leg were covered in “bites and tears”.

Leni has since undergone surgery on her legs and neck.

“She is stable now and (the vet) thinks she is going to be okay but she is going to need a lot of care,” Ms Thurston said.

The family had owned Marley and Leni, both aged eight, since they were puppies.

“They were a part of our family,” Ms Thurston said.

City of Greater Geelong executive director of city life Anthony Basford said the incident had been reported to council and an investigation was underway.

“Two dogs have been seized by council,” he said.

“We are unable to provide further comment at this stage as the investigation is ongoing.”

Ms Thurston said Leni’s vet bill was already more than $7000.

“So many amazing people have been helping us during this time, it’s been overwhelming,” she said.

A GoFundMe page ‘Help Leni get the surgery she needs’ has been set up to help cover the vet bill.

Originally published as Leopold family’s two dogs mauled in horror backyard attack