A fun afternoon amble along the Batehaven waterfront flipped into an ugly and horrifying ordeal for a Catalina woman when her pet greyhound was set upon by two frenzied dogs.
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Scared children in the park witnessed the savage attack on Jacqueline Gallagher and her pet Genie who were saved from further injury when two women ran to their aid.
“One dog came from the right and the other from the front and began attacking Genie,” Ms Gallagher said.
“They attacked her and one bit me.
“It was a very aggressive attack. One was an American bulldog and the other a brown-coloured dog.
“One had Genie by her throat and I picked her up (off the ground) to try and protect her but one dog latched onto her front leg and tore the flesh to the bone.
“They were jumping up in frenzy.
“It was a killing machine. Unfortunately, it was trying to kill my dog.
“It only stopped when one woman kicked the bulldog and pulled it away.”
With her pet badly bitten Ms Gallagher was also bitten as she tried to protect Genie.
At one stage in the ordeal, both fell to the ground as both dogs continued the attack while Ms Gallagher tried to shield Genie.
“It was terrifying. I was totally helpless. We were lucky that a woman ran across the park and a woman driving by in a car came back to help us,” she said.
One of the women bravely held one of the attacking dogs by the scruff of its neck.
Genie underwent surgery and has stitches in her damaged front-right leg.
Ms Gallagher wants people to know that after several recent dog attacks in the area, they must take care and be aware that dangerous dogs are living in the Batemans Bay community.
She said the owner of one of the dogs arrived at the scene, was apologetic and said both dogs had escaped.
The animal lover did not want to point the finger at any particular breed of dog as being overly dangerous, but said that “it’s the deed, not the breed”.
She had to take some time off work after injuring her shoulder.
Along with ongoing medical treatment and veterinary fees, Ms Gallagher says the attack has had an emotional effect.
“These dangerous dogs shouldn’t be in the community and their owners have to be held accountable,” she said.
“It was traumatic and I felt powerless.
“It was lucky that I was not an elderly person walking a small dog. If there had been children involved the result could have been far worse, a life and death situation.”
Eurobodalla Shire Council rangers are investigating this latest attack.
