The horses' owner, Susan Myers, who witnessed the attack, is concerned the pit bull cross could still be on the loose.
On Sunday, November 2, Ms Myers was at home, periodically checking on 25-year-old Shetland pony Rosie, when she saw the female pit bull attack the mare.
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| Shetland pony Rosie was attacked first but the pit bull dog then went for Zida after a man hit it with some wood. Rosie gave birth two days later. |
"I'd been keeping an eye on her because she was pregnant and due to give birth," she said.
"I happened to look out and saw it while the attack was happening. I yelled out to my mum to ring the vet immediately. I just raced over screaming like a mad person with a whip in my hand."
Ms Myers said no amount of yelling would make the dog unclasp its jaws from the terrified pony's neck, but even when the dog did let go the rampage was not over.
"A man came into the paddock and hit the dog with a lump of wood, then it took off and went for my other horse in the next paddock and just launched straight at her throat," she said.
"I've seen dogs attack animals before but they usually go for the legs or the belly, but this dog knew exactly where to go to make a kill.
"After it did all of this it chased a man who was walking his dog and he just got in his door in the nick of time ... and the dog still tried to savage the door."
Police and a Wollongong City Council ranger attended the scene where a second dog was caught, although they were not able to locate the female culprit.
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| Susan Myers checks the injury a dog left after attacking quarter horse Zida around the throat. |
Despite their traumatic ordeal, both Rosie and Zida the quarter horse survived.
Ms Myers is just thankful the outcome wasn't worse.
"The ponies are for little kids," she said. "If they were here it could have been really, really bad."
Rosie's foal arrived two days later.
(Illawarra Mercury - November 12, 2008)