Jack russell-pomeranian cross Apache killed by pitbull at Maryborough dog park

A Qld family is distraught after their jack russell-pomeranian cross was killed by a pitbull which also attacked and left one of them covered in blood at a popular dog park. VIDEO, PHOTOS.

A Maryborough family is devastated after their jack russell-pomeranian cross was brutally attacked and killed by a pitbull more than twice his size at a local dog park.

Karen Berry, owner of eight-year-old Apache, has described the attack as a “terrible” and “awful” ordeal that has left her grieving an unnecessary death.

On a disability support pension after committing nine years to the Australian Navy, Karen found it difficult to walk her two dogs, so her sister and brother-in-law regularly took them with their own pets to give them daily physical activity.

Apache was a beloeved jack russell-pomeranian recovering from cancer.

On the afternoon of January 21, 2025 at around 6pm, Norio and Gail Matsumoto took the dogs including Apache for their regular run-around at the empty Cheapside St dog park.

Not long after they arrived however, a man with what they believed to be three pitbull-crosses entered the fenced, off-leash area.

“Our dogs went over to greet them with wagging tails,” Gail said.

One of the pitbulls, who was still on a lead at this time and reportedly “twice the size” of Apache, managed to grab the little pomeranian and shake him by the belly, before dropping him, and then grabbing him again.

Norio raced over to the pitbull trying to pry its mouth open, suffering injuries to his hand.

Norio and Gail Matsumoto were walking Karen's dogs when a pitbull attacked one of them.

The pitbull dropped Apache once more before again turning on Norio.

“It was like an attack dog,” Gail said.

“The owner was just doing nothing.

“He had them on the lead but was doing nothing.”

Norio, then holding an unresponsive Apache with multiple puncture wounds to his stomach, rounded up the other dogs with Gail and headed for Karen’s house, hoping to call a vet clinic that was open.

A vet over the phone walked the pair through trying to look for signs of responsiveness in Apache, but he was already dead.

They headed back to the park to tell the pitbull owner what had happened, only to find that he had left.

Neighbours who heard the commotion tipped Norio and Gail off to where the man lived.

“He was not remorseful,” Gail said.

“I told him that his dog had just killed ours and he said, ‘what do do want me to do?’”

Norio was left covered in Apache's blood after the attack.

Apache was recovering from an aggressive form of cancer at the time of the attack, making saying goodbye even more difficult than first thought.

“We had high hopes that he’d pull through, then this happened,” Karen said.

“He was such a wonderful, little dog,” Gail added.

“Apache was the friendliest of all of them.

“We could see him doing so well and that made us joyful.”

For Karen, who credits her animals with keeping her happy and healthy, the loss is especially hard.

“I’d be lost without them,” she said.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”

Karen lost her daughter in a car accident when she was only 7-years-old and would “hate to see that hell imposed on some other mother because that dog killed her child.”

The man's pitbulls that allegedly attacked Apache.

“What if it’s a child that the dog attacks next?” she said.

Karen called council rangers to report the attack.

A council spokesperson told this publication they “take animal management extremely seriously”.

“We investigate all attacks and take strong action in line with the Animal Management Act and our own local laws.

“Council is currently investigating this matter in line with our standard legal processes.”

Witness statements from Norio and Gail were also sent to the council.

Karen keeps Apache's collar in the house.

“You go to a dog park and expect them to be safe,” Karen said.

“For him to go in such an awful way was just terrible.”

Originally published as Jack russell-pomeranian cross Apache killed by pitbull at Maryborough dog park