Dog owner distraught after roaming rottweiler kills her pet
A roaming rottweiler attacked and killed a small dog in an area where dogs must be walked on their leash.
But the owner of the dog killed says she doesn’t blame the rottweiler or its owner, but she does want dog owners to be more aware of other dogs when out in public so it doesn’t happen again.
Marama Bowler was walking her maltese/shitzu dog, Trixie, along with the family dog, Skip, along the Waikato River in Hamilton when a rottweiler came ‘‘sniffing around’’.
Bowler quickly became tangled in the leads and pulled in two directions as the rottweiler began attacking her dogs.
Bowler, who is deaf, turned to check on Skip when she felt a sharp yank on Trixie’s lead.
She turned around and saw blood everywhere.
‘‘It was then, in that moment, that I was glad that I was deaf, so I didn’t have to hear her crying and in pain.’’
Trixie had been bitten by the rottweiler and was being thrown around like a rag doll.
‘‘I tried yanking her back but it was like the dog thought she was playing tug-o-war with me. So I had let go and run for the sake of my other dog.’’
Bowler, 20, was walking the dogs on Friday morning near the river path by Cobham Drive.
According to Hamilton City Council, the river paths are an area where dogs need to be walked on-lead.
After the incident she ran to the footpath and screamed for help.
By then, the owner of the rottweiler had raced down and saw what was happening.
Bowler said she was in just as much shock and ripped her dog off Trixie, putting her straight on to a lead.
Bowler wants dog owners who let their dogs off lead to be more aware of other dogs.
‘‘You want to let your dog run free in big open spaces, especially if they don’t get to in their own back yards,’’ she said.
‘‘I understand why she was off her lead – but dogs can snap at any given moment.
‘‘It can happen to anyone and no matter what breed.’’
Bowler had adopted Trixie – her ‘‘fur baby’’ – from her partner’s grandad after he died.
This year to date there have been 120 incidents of dogs attacking other animals in Hamilton. Other animals include dogs, rabbits, cats and chickens. Last year there were 155 incidents. Council animal education and control manager Susan Stanford said it was important that dogs stay on leads at all times, unless they were at a designated dog exercise area.
If in doubt, they should keep their dog on a lead, she said.
‘‘Not only does it make sure your dog stays safe, but also other dogs and people, especially young children, who may not be confident or comfortable around dogs.
‘‘An off-lead dog can cause serious harm even if they’ve never attacked anything before.’’