Poodle killed by roaming dog

A dog attack that killed a poodle and injured its 71-year-old owner has rallied the Bayview community.

Susan Baker, 71, was walking to the dairy with a friend and their two dogs on January 27 when a lone, wandering dog attacked them on Bayview Rd.

Baker’s poodle Georgie was shaken ‘‘like a rag doll’’, when she got between her owner and the approaching dog.

Baker tried to save her beloved pet of seven years, but it was too late.

Georgie died in the car on the way to the vet.

The Bayview community has organised a walk of solidarity, which took place on January 30.

Baker’s daughter, Fran Hilditch, said there has by an outpouring of community support for her mother.

Baker is a long-standing and loved member of the community, affectionately known as the Chicken Lady.

‘‘She [Baker] is a very, very strong woman, but she’s really traumatised by the event.’’

They were just walking along when they noticed a dark brown ‘‘staffy-looking’’ dog coming up the road, Hilditch said.

‘‘The dog just put its head down and started coming towards them,’’ Hilditch said.

The dog had no collar and wasn’t with an owner.

‘‘She [Georgie] looked like she had been attacked by a dragon,’’ Hilditch said.

Baker was also injured in the attack and is recovering from surgery following the incident.

Hilditch said she was reluctant to report the event because of the stereotypes around this kind of dog.

‘‘I just want to raise awareness about an incident that did happen,’’ she said.

Auckland Council’s animal management team confirmed it was notified of a dog attack involving a brown pit bull type dog.

‘‘This is a traumatic incident for all involved,’’ manager Nikki Marchant-Ludlow said.

‘‘Our thoughts are with Ms Baker and we wish her a speedy recovery.

‘‘We are currently investigating and following up on possible leads. As yet, we have not located the dog.’’

If anyone has information about this incident, contact 09 301 0101 as soon as possible.

A Give-a-little page was set up by Baker’s daughters.

SUPPLIED Baker had her poodle for seven years and Georgie was regarded as the fourth child.