By REBECCA BILLS
Couple appeal for owners to take responsibility after pet is mauled…
KALLISTA residents Veronica and John Ray are $1000 out of pocket after their beloved dog Pix was attacked last Tuesday.
The couple were taking Pix on an evening stroll on Tuesday 21 January about 6pm when the dog was brutally attacked by two other dogs that were not on leads in Kallista Primary School.
“The two dogs were on the school oval with their owners when they came over to us,” Mrs Ray said.
“I just expected the dogs to have a sniff of Pix and then return to their owners on call.
“Instead the dogs attacked and when called by the owners they did not listen.”
Mrs Ray said she was screaming trying to get the dogs to stop and even after her husband threw himself over Pix the dogs continued to attack.
“The dogs were eventually dragged off by their owners but I was in such a state of shock I didn’t get their names,” she said.
“I do know that one of the dogs looked to be a great Dane and the other an American bulldog.”
Mrs Ray said she knows a lot of people in the area who also have small dogs that have been attack by dogs being exercised while not on leads.
“I feel the owners of these attacking dogs should own up, be honest and take responsibility for what has happened,” she said.
Pix has now returned home after spending a few nights recovering at the vet with a big gash around her neck and wounds on her legs and back.
“There is one section of really bruised skin on one of her wounds and the vet said in attacks like this that skin could die and she may need more operations,” Mrs Ray said.
Mr Ray said he believes he would not be out of pocket $1000 if the owners had obeyed the dog rules in the area.
“I wouldn’t want the dogs to be put down or anything but this situation could have easily been avoided,” he said.
“The ranges have a lot of things to do but they don’t seem to be around when people are walking dogs that are often off their lead in this area.”
Yarra Ranges Council said despite a search of the area, the council was unable to find the dogs responsible for the attack.
“We are monitoring the condition of the other dog and will conduct regular patrols in the area,” they said.
“If anyone has any information on the incident, contact our Local Laws Department on 1300 368 333.”
