Little Monty (9) didn't stand a chance when two large dogs burst through the front door of his Blaxland home.
His owner, Vicki Fowler, was just about to close and lock the door when her phone rang. As she answered it, she let go of the door and the dogs rushed between her legs.
One of them grabbed Monty, a Maltese terrier, by the legs. Terrified and screaming, she tried to pull it off but it bit her hand. She picked up a piece of wood nearby and tried to hit it.
Eventually, neighbours, alerted by her screaming, arrived to help. Ms Fowler was taken to hospital to have her hand treated and Monty was taken to the vet.
Now, one fractured leg and two broken legs later - one required surgery and a pin after all the ligaments were severed - she has had to pay vet bills in excess of $13,000.
And the dogs' owners are refusing to pay.
Ms Fowler has sent two legal letters, seeking a meeting or mediation. She even offered a pay-by-instalments plan. No answer.
She has now had to lodge her own civil action to get the owners to court.
Ms Fowler has had to jump over many hurdles to get this far.
Council would not tell her the name of the dogs' owners for privacy reasons - she was told to apply under freedom of information legislation.
Council also referred her to police because they had been first on the scene but the police said it was a civil matter.
Fortunately, the owners had previously posted on Facebook that their dogs had escaped so Ms FowIer was able to find out their names that way.
The whole legal process has also been a test. While staff at Katoomba Court helped, the online documents were difficult to fill in.
"I'm really at my wits end of what to do… I've done everything I can possibly do for them to come back and say, we're OK to pay… I just want it over with."
In a perfect world, she said, there would have been someone in authority who could help her.
"If there's one thing that I wish it's that council rangers should be able to negotiate with the owners [for payment]," she said.
Monty has had the staples removed after surgery but is not putting any weight on his leg. He will now have to have an X-ray to see if the pin has taken.
A council spokeswoman said the dog that attacked Monty was declared dangerous on January 10.
"The owner of the dangerous dog reported to council on February 13 that the dog had died and was buried in the backyard.
"Council has requested a statutory declaration confirming the death of the dog, but is yet to receive that declaration."
