Pamela Dixon shares heartbreaking story of losing pet to dog attack

A dog owner has described the horrifying moment her beloved pet was brutally mauled to death as they walked down their quiet suburban street in Brisbane’s south.

Star the poodle’s owner says she was attacked and killed while out for a walk.

Neighbours on a quiet suburban street in Brisbane’s south had their afternoon peace shattered by the “screams” of a beloved family pet as it was mauled to death by an off-leash dog.

Pamela Dixon, 76, was taking her six-year-old miniature poodles, Star and Bentley, for their weekend walk – but they never made it to the end of their street.

“I can still hear (Star) screaming,” Mrs Dixon said.

“These memories will never go away”.

Mrs Dixon said she had only walked a few metres when an off-leash dog attacked and killed one of her much-loved poodles.

Mrs Dixon adopted Star, a 5kg miniature poodle, last May with her brother Bentley. Picture: Contributed

“We were going for our afternoon walk,” Mrs Dixon said.

“Star loved her walks. She was practically skipping down the road.

“I turned around and I saw this great big dog, barrelling down the street towards us.

“I froze, trying to comprehend what I was seeing. There was no barking, it just went straight for Star. I tried pulling them behind my back but it was too quick.”

Mrs Dixon described the moment Star was attacked, saying she herself was knocked over and landed hard on the ground.

“I just heard Star start screaming. It brought out everyone on the street. I was on the ground. I saw the dog shaking her,” she said with a shaky voice as she recounted the experience.

Neighbours came to aid Mrs Dixon who made a mad dash to vet emergency to save Star.

Mrs Dixon with her grandchildren and Star. Picture: Contributed

“People came from everywhere to help. One neighbour took Bentley and two women I had never met before drove us to vet emergency.

“She was lying in my arms in the car with her eyes open, and I was telling her ‘don’t close your eyes, we’re nearly there’ but she closed her eyes. I think that was when she died. In my arms.

“When we got to the vet, we rushed her in and they asked if I wanted to try resuscitation. I said ‘do it, don’t worry about the cost’, but there was no coming back.

“I held her for what felt like forever.”

The vet told Mrs Dixon Star’s spine had been severed during the attack, and the likelihood of saving her would have been very slim had she survived the attack.

As well as the traumatising loss of her beloved pet, Mrs Dixon said, at age 76, the attack had altered her day-to-day life.

“I was never scared to walk down my street before. I don’t know if I can ever go for a walk again,” she said.

“I enjoy going out walking and talking to people; that dog has taken away that aspect of my social life.”

Mrs Dixon said Bentley was not coping with the loss of his sister, anxious and crying since the attack that took Star.

“He won’t let me out of his sight,” she said.

Mrs Dixon said she had been left with hundreds of dollars in vet bills, as well as costs for pet cremation so she could honour Star with a memorial in her home.

Star and her brother Bentley were ‘inseparable’ and adopted as a pair. Photo: Contributed

“I can’t believe how much support I’ve had from everyone on the street, and from my family. It’s up to council what happens now,” she said.

Brisbane City Council says it investigates all dog attack reports as a high priority.

“Generally Council first contacts the victim and/or witnesses which can also include photos and vet reports surrounding the alleged incident” a council media representative said.

“From there Council works to identify the alleged offending dog and contact the owner. Once an investigation is finalised outcomes can range from the issuing of notices and infringements to seizing the animal and prosecution.

“In serious matters Council may also make a destruction order for the dog.”

Originally published as Pamela Dixon shares heartbreaking story of losing pet to dog attack