A Staffordshire Bull Terrier who dragged a small dog out of the arms of its owner last month, leaving both dog and owner injured, has been voluntarily surrendered and euthanased.
A Leura woman and her dog were both on anxiety medication after being attacked by the dog on the corner of Wilson and Lovell Streets in Katoomba late on April 30.
The 56-year-old woman’s dog was dragged from her arms by the female Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
The victim Sharleen [whose surname the Gazette has withheld by request] was treated in two hospitals for multiple bites to both hands and needed specialist plastic surgery, as the dog bit down to the bone on one finger. Her dog, Mason, a 7.5 kg wiry haired Jack Russell cross, spent five days at the vets following wounds to his legs.
“I’m really traumatised by it all. I haven’t been sleeping. I keep remembering it. I’m too terrified to take Mason out for a walk,” she told the Gazette soon after the attack.
But a council spokeswoman has since informed the Gazette the dog was surrendered and put down.
“With reference to the recent dog attack in Leura featured on the front page of the Gazette, I am just letting you know that council was advised by the RSPCA shelter manager that the owner of the attacking dog surrendered the dog last Thursday [May 17]. The dog was euthanized last Friday [May 18].
“Council understands that the owner was visibly upset when he surrendered the dog, but felt he couldn’t risk someone else being injured.
“In addition to this he has paid a substantial sum in medical costs so far.
“A decision to proceed with enforcement action is yet to be made,” the council spokeswoman said.
Sharleen said she was taking her regular walk with her dog Mason, and her neighbour’s dog Oscar, when she heard something coming up behind her.
“We were just enjoying the beautiful sunshine, five minutes from home, I could hear something coming charging up behind me. It was this Staffordshire Bull Terrier and it was charging. I picked up both dogs one in each arm. He jumped up and ripped Mason from me.”
She said the dog latched on to her pet and she was bitten multiple times while trying to stop the attack. Her neighbour’s dog Oscar cowered behind her legs.
“Mason was looking up at me, he was screaming and I was screaming. There was blood everywhere.”
Nearby roadworkers and a man in the nearby electrical store heard her screams and came running to help.
“The men were trying to get the dog to let go of Mason which took a lot of effort.”
The dog was held by the workmen until the council ranger took her away and Sharleen was assisted by the two other good samaritans.
Sharleen, who cares for her elderly mother, was unable to shower, go to the toilet or cook for them both for about a week due to a cast on one arm and thick bandages on the other.
Mason, a 7.5 kg wiry haired Jack Russell cross is now taking “doggie valium” tablets for post traumatic stress. He loves to sing songs and has not sung since being attacked on April 30. The Gazette captured him singing to his favourite tune “Lord Don’t Leave Me’ for the first time since the incident, while Sharleen looked on wiping away tears.
A council spokeswoman said rangers were looking into the incident and confirmed “the subject dog is a registered female Staffordshire Bull Terrier” which had run away from his home when the gate “had been left open inadvertently”.
