Beloved pet pooch mauled to death
LISA Geard said it was “heartbreaking” to watch her “very affectionate” and “always happy” terrier-cross Skittles get viciously attacked by another dog.
The 10-year-old pet was “like a brother” to Ms Geard’s son Ryland Champion, 14, and only weighed about 11kg.
“He was very energetic and he adored my son,” Ms Geard said.
The Kingston local said she decided to walk Skittles through their neighbourhood at about 4.30pm on August 6.
She said she and Skittles spotted a man who looked to be in his late 60s with a rottweiler. The owner had his dog on a leash.
“He must have lived near where he was standing because he was coaxing the dog to come inside,” she said.
“But the dog was standing his ground, being inquisitive. Skittles went to have a sniff. They hadn’t even touched noses and the dog just went for him. The man let go because he couldn’t hold onto it.”
Ms Geard said she spent what “felt like forever” trying to separate the dogs.
She said she was bitten and later received a tetanus vaccination and antibiotics.
“[Skittles’] injuries were so bad that he would not have survived the surgery it would take to fix them. I knew he was going to die.”
She said a man living nearby drove her and Skittles to the Channel Highway Animal Hospital.
Ms Geard said Ryland came to farewell his best friend. “It was heartbreaking,” she said.
She said she didn’t know if the rottweiler was put down, but was told by the Kingborough Council the other dog “will not be coming back into the community”.
Dogs off-lead Tasmania Facebook Group admin Trudi Pattison-Petersen said all owners needed to control their dogs.
“If you cannot control your dog, do not take your dog into public,” she said.