Emily and the family dog Snowy. The nine-year-old west Highland terrier is recovering from a dog attack last Sunday.
By Callan Date
A NARRE Warren South family is distraught after their pet dog had its face mauled by a stray dog last Sunday.
Their anger has been compounded by the fact that Snowy, a nine-year-old west Highland terrier, was in the family backyard when she was attacked.
Dog owner Joanna, who asked for her surname not to be revealed, said the family pet went into shock after being bitten and had to be rushed to a Hallam vet for emergency treatment.
“There was blood everywhere.
“She spent 13 hours at the vet on Sunday,” Joanna said.
She said the two stray dogs, one of which she believes is a pit-bull cross, dug away at the soil underneath her fence.
“Snowy stuck her nose through the hole and had half her faced ripped off by one of the dogs,” she said.
“It was such a hideous noise. It was like a human screaming – I didn’t even know dogs could make a noise like that,” Joanna said.
Snowy is slowly recovering from the attack with more than 10 stitches in her mouth helping to close the wound.
“Part of her face was ripped back to the bone.”
However, Joanna’s main concern is the danger children may be in if the dogs continue to roam the streets.
She said Casey Council had been very supportive in the aftermath of the attack and sent a ranger out within a couple of hours.
“Casey have been fantastic.
“They have been in constant contact with us since the attack and rangers have been patrolling the area,” she said.
She said fireworks from a local show on Saturday night might have spooked the dogs and caused them to escape.
“I don’t want the dogs put down.
“I just want to make sure the owner knows these dogs can get out of their property.”
