LET’S GET RUFF
Dog owners face harshest fines in state under councillor’s push to crack down against animal attacks
GOLD Coast dog owners face being slapped with Queensland’s harshest fines under a proposed crackdown against violent animals. Robina Cr Hermann Vorster is leading the push, saying the message isn’t getting through, and violence towards animals and their owners was getting worse. “There is no choice but to communicate through the hip pocket,’’ Cr Vorster told the Bulletin. Teacher Candice MorrisGrant, pictured, has backed calls for tougher penalties after her mini fox terrier Buckley was attacked while sunbaking in his own backyard.
A TEACHER has backed calls for tougher rules to rein in roaming dogs after her mini fox terrier was attacked in its own backyard.
Candice Morris-Grant said 10-year-old foxy Buckley – a valued member of her family – would probably never be quite the same after the frightening incident.
Mrs Morris-Grant said a dog of an unknown breed, which she estimated was about “four times as big as Buckley”, made its way over a retaining wall and preyed on her pooch while he was “having a little sunbake” late last year.
“He’s come into our yard and bitten Buckley on the back. (Buckley suffered) three puncture wounds which cost about $1500 at the vet,” she said.
Mrs Morris-Grant heard Buckley yelp loudly in pain and dashed out to find the tiny dog bleeding and shaken.
“It was (distressing) for Buckley and it was quite distressing for me as well,” Mrs Morris-Grant said.
The bite wounds were treated by an after-hours emergency vet.
Buckley has recovered from the physical impact of his terrifying ordeal, but whether the mental impact continues to affect him down the line remains to be seen.
“Previously, when other dogs came up to him it wouldn’t worry him,” Mrs Morris-Grant said.
“Now, he’s wary of them and when people lean down to pat him he’s not overly impressed either.
“No change towards (our family), but towards other dogs and other people.”
The Tweed resident said she had previously woken up to see the dog that attacked Buckley near her balcony.
She welcomed tougher rules by councils to encourage more responsible dog ownership “so this doesn’t happen”.