DOG MAULED WHILE WALKING ON PATH
AN 11-year-old dog may need its leg amputated after being mauled by a black staffy while walking with its owner.
Ollie, a maltese-cross poodle, was so severely bitten that stomach muscles were torn, his groin was ripped apart into his bowels and one of his legs was chewed through, its bones crushed.
Devastated owner Keelie Hartigan said the attack happened on Rio Vista Boulevard, Broadbeach Waters, on Tuesday.
Ms Hartigan said she had been walking Ollie along one of their regular routes when she spotted kids riding their bikes.
She said a black staffy was trailing behind them and she stepped aside to let them pass.
That was when the staffy grabbed Ollie and “shook him like a ragdoll”.
Ms Hartigan said Ollie ran around her legs trying to escape, but the dog continued to bite him.
Ms Hartigan fell over during the scuffle and suffered minor injuries.
A good Samaritan, Luke Shrewsbury, intervened and helped rush Ollie to the closest vet.
Ollie underwent surgery for four hours to close the gaping wounds and had to use a catheter to urinate.
Ms Hartigan will now need to fork out more than $4000 on vet bills – after the owner of the alleged savage dog refused to pay.
“He’s ‘only’ a dog, but I’ve had him since my father passed away,” she said. “It’s been pretty traumatising watching it all happen … I keep reliving (the dog) chomping into my dog.”
Ms Hartigan said she had lodged a formal complaint with the council, and while she did not want to see the dog destroyed, she did want to ensure it was properly contained and educated.
Gold Coast City Council was unable to comment on the matter last night.