Two dogs have been blamed for an horrific attack on alpacas and pet sheep at Batemans Bay High School, with the badly mutilated animals later euthanased.
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It was an awful start to the holidays for staff at the school yesterday morning when two dogs walked into the grounds.
No one thought anything of it until sounds of distress were heard coming from the fenced-off agriculture plot where sheep, two lambs and the alpacas were kept.
Two staff members saw the dogs attacking a pregnant alpaca’s throat and managed to get the dogs off but her injuries were severe.
Other badly injured and mutilated animals lay distressed in the yard.
A vet was immediately called to the scene and two sheep, a lamb, and two alpacas were euthanased because of the severity of their injuries.
”It’s horrendous. My students will be devastated,” said distressed agriculture teacher Megan Nicholls, as she looked around the yard.
The brown-fleeced alpaca named Totally Cool (TC) had been at the school seven years and was a favourite of students, who used to walk him around the grounds.
He even attended the Eurobodalla Show.
Fergie, whose baby was due within two weeks, was also unable to be saved. Her male friend Rozzi remained on the other side of the fence looking anxiously at his lifeless mate.
Nearby was Valentine, now resting quietly after being treated for bite injuries to her face and neck following the frightening and frenzied attack.
Dixie, a poddy lamb that was being bottle-fed by the students, also died as did two ewes.
A second lamb that was injured but survived the attack has been taken into the home of a school worker to be cared for.
General school assistant Mike Terry is disgusted by the attack and said the dogs had to jump a high fence to get into the yard.
He saw the pair earlier that morning and they had appeared friendly. There was no indication of the horror to come.
”I think they were staffies. One black bitch, one brindle-coloured,” he said.
“Staff captured them and put them in a shed. They had collars and had been microchipped.
“Council rangers have taken them.
“The animals’ injuries were horrendous as they were attacked around the head and throat. They could not be saved.”
Mr Terry said he did not know what triggered the attack but dog-owners needed to be more responsible and keep their dogs secured.
“I come off a farm and I have not seen anything like this before. It’s awful,” he said.
Mr Terry said Batemans Bay police also attended the scene after rangers took the dogs away.
