Beloved family pet mauled to death in horrific attack in Darwin rural area

A HOWARD Springs family has been left devastated after their beloved dachshund was mauled to death by a trio of hunting dogs in a savage attack. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES.

Five-year-old dachshund Pancake has been killed in a savage dog attack in Howard Springs. Picture: Yvette Goldberg

A HOWARD Springs family has been left devastated after their beloved dachshund was mauled to death by a trio of hunting dogs in a savage attack.

Yvette Goldberg said her dachshunds Pancake and Maple had been set upon by three large pig-hunting dogs in the backyard of her Bronzewing Avenue home about 2.40pm on Wednesday.

Family members desperately intervened to save their pets and managed to rescue Maple but the dogs wrested Pancake out of their grasp.

“My father, who is 84 years old, came outside in the pouring rain to assist me. The dogs knocked him over into the dirt,” Ms Goldberg said.

“I managed to grab Pancake and hold him, as my father managed to get the female (Maple), who has currently got five puppies, back into the house.

MORE TOP NEWS

Batchelor Institute in formal investigation of ‘internal complaints

Territorians’ access to emergency weather information jeopardised as Facebook changes block BoM page in middle of Top End cyclone season

Two of the three surviving Bombing of Darwin Veterans will miss this year’s commemorations

“The dogs finally managed to grab Pancake around his body. A dog took his head, a dog took his tail, and they dragged me seven metres through the gravel and the mud on my driveway.

“I eventually had to let go because I couldn't hold on anymore.”

By the time the family caught up with them, their pet had tragically been killed.

“It was the most savage attack you could ever envision,” Ms Goldberg said.

“It was like I was holding onto something I loved and something was tearing it out of my arms.”

Since the attack, the three hunting dogs involved have all been euthanised.

Pig-hunting dogs attack pet dachshund Pancake in Howard Springs on Wednesday. Picture: Yvette Goldberg

A distraught Yvette Goldberg with the body of her pet dachshund Pancake after the attack. Picture: Yvette Goldberg

Ms Goldberg said she planned to take legal action against the dogs’ owner and wanted to see Litchfield Council bring in by-laws to better protect the community from dangerous dogs.

She said she was especially worried about the risk the dogs could pose to children in the community.

HOT NEW DEAL: Read everything for 28 days for just $1

“I’m heartbroken, devastated, and in disbelief,” she said.

“What if it was somebody’s kid; what if it was someone’s child?”