‘She was beautiful’: Owner calls for change after 10-year-old golden retriever dies after two attacks in same month

A grief-stricken owner of a 10-year-old golden retriever can’t sleep and is haunted by the attack that claimed the life of her beloved pet.

A grief-stricken owner of a ten-year-old golden retriever has called for immediate change after her dog Ruby died from a second vicious attack in less than a month.

Early last month, Ruby was attacked by a German shepherd who managed to escape out of a bedroom window in Adelaide’s south. Just four weeks later – while visiting a vet for a vaccination – an unleashed dog jumped out of a car and made a “beeline” for Ruby who had just been told of her excellent health condition.

June Deane's 10-year-old Golden Retriever Ruby died last week after two vicious attacks in less than a month. Picture: Facebook

June Deane, Ruby’s owner, said her late dog “didn’t have a bad bone in her body.”

“She was beautiful,” June said.

“When my mum was dying she would visit the nursing home and Ruby would visit and all the residents would love seeing her as she brightened up their day.”

Four weeks ago, Ruby was walked around Adelaide south when a German shepherd jumped out of a bedroom window and attacked her. She sustained injuries and was treated for wounds, but made a full recovery after being nurtured at home for four weeks.

Ruby visiting the nursing home. Pictures supplied by June Deane.

“My husband, Matthew would always take Ruby for a walk and this German Shepherd would always growl at her,” June said.

“This particular day, there was a broken fly screen and Matthew saw it jump out and go straight for Ruby.

“There’s a lot of feelings of anger. My husband got the dog off Ruby and held her in the air.

“We took her to the vet and contacted the council. We were told it was a dangerous dog with a dangerous dog collar on. It wasn’t its first rodeo, but it was its second chance. You don’t get that collar without offending before.

Ruby and June posing for a photo.

“Matthew had to fill out a statement and if the dog owner protests, we’d have to go to court. The owner didn’t.

“We don’t know what happened to that dog, but we assume it was put down.”

Just last week, she was called back to the vet for a vaccination and routine check-up where she was praised for how well her wound had healed.

The receptionist then came into the room and asked the vet if she could quickly fit a Staffy in with a broken toenail who was waiting in the carpark.

Then the unthinkable happened, a second attack happened to Ruby.

“I was devastated to see her in that condition,” June said.

“We took her to a vet. She had a t-shirt on, a bucket over her head and an inflatable ring. We made her well. She was better.

“The vet emailed us reminding us it was time for her vaccination. Kill two birds with one stone and get her wounds checked and do it all in one go.

Ruby and June at the beach.

“Everything was fine. We paid, Ruby was wagging her tail, everything was fine, then I heard an awful scream. I run outside and I can see Ruby laying on the ground.

“Her eyes. Her beautiful eyes were just looking at me. I can’t sleep at night. She was staring right at me. I can still see her eyes. It’s just devastating. My husband was trying so hard, but the dog was locked onto her. I dived in and ripped this dog off of Ruby.

“I’m still wounded. I still have a bad finger. The vet, receptionist, we all ran back in to treat Ruby. I’m crying, my husband has pressure on my hand as blood is going everywhere while Ruby was being treated. She got eight staples to her wounds.

“I asked if she’d be okay... I stayed home the next day to tend to her. She wasn’t walking right.

“I couldn’t bring her into the vet as she has staples. She got picked up and taken to the vets and was put on medication.

“The next morning, I knew that was it. She was laying at the bottom of the garden. A lot of dogs do that when they’re sick and they go somewhere to die.

Ruby in her puppy years.

“She was hyperventilating, her meds got changed. But as she lay on her favourite couch, her breathing began to stop. We were saying ‘no way, no way’. We tried everything to bring her back, but she was gone.

“She went into shock and it’s not good enough. Why do these dogs get second chances?

June has since started a petition called ‘Ruby’s Law’ – campaigning for a safer community with “no more second chances in fatal dog attacks”.

“Don’t let Ruby’s death be in vain. Please sign this petition and I will present this to parliament and the media,” Ms Deane said.

“My grief is so bad now, I have no words.

“Ruby passed away on Wednesday night – she couldn’t cope with the shock. My grief is more than you can comprehend.”

Originally published as ‘She was beautiful’: Owner calls for change after 10-year-old golden retriever dies after two attacks in same month