The sickening attack happened around 9am on New Year’s Day when Elizabeth Ann Thomas, from Russell Street, Burnbank, was taking her three little white Bichon Frise dogs out for their morning walk.
She had just left the house and had two of the dogs on a lead and the third, who was off the leash, was walking behind.
Elizabeth said: “We always have Charlie, who was attacked, and Meg on the double lead, but Mitzi, the other female, doesn’t like being on the lead.
“As we got to the corner of Russell Street and Robertson Street, I noticed the Akitas pounding down the street towards me and the dogs.
“It’s body language told me that it was in ‘hunt’ mode, and I was terrified for my safety and that of my wee dogs.
“Before I knew it, the Akita had grabbed Charlie by the throat. It punctured and tore through his flesh and fur.
“I was screaming and Mitzi, who was not on the lead, came running up to the scene.
“The Akita was distracted by her and it dropped Charlie to the ground.
“Neighbours who also witnessed the attack came out to help chase the Akita back into its garden, so that we could try to save Charlie.”
The police were called and an emergency vet in Glasgow was contacted.
The family were quoted £200 to £300 for treatment at the time, however, after all the emergency and consultation fees, treatments, surgery, labour costs, and medication were added up the bill came to a staggering £823.
A further £72 vet bill from their local vet in Blantyre is also due, although the owner’s of the Akita have offered to pay the pet fees.
Elizabeth added: “The very sad and unfortunate thing is that the couple who own the dog, who just live round the corner, are very responsible dog owners.
“My husband, Edward, and I have seen them take their two Akita dogs, one male one female, into their car to go on outings and walks.
“They explained to us that, after returning to their home on New Year’s morning after being out, someone had attempted to break into their garden shed and had the garden gate was left open .
“They did not notice that the gate was open, and had let the male dog out into the garden in the morning.”
This was when the male Akita got out into the street.
After the attack, the dog owners found out who their dog had attacked and visited the Thomas’s.
Elizabeth added: “The couple were very upset at what their dog had done and paid the full vet costs as a gesture of goodwill.
“They also plan to have the dog put to sleep to prevent any further possible attacks.”
Husband Edward added: “We do appreciate the couple coming round and taking responsibility for their dog’s actions, for that they should be commended, however there is a warning to other large dog owners here, and that is that dog’s can be unpredictable, especially with small dogs and small children, where they can see them as a play toy and attack at will thinking that they are doing no wrong.
“People who have, or are considering taking on a large dog breed like an Akita should be aware of this and take information from the Dangerous Dogs Acts 1991, and muzzle aggressive breeds.”
A spokesman for police said they had received a complaint that the Akita had been left to roam the streets, without being on a lead.
Inquiries are continuing. Anyone who witnessed the incident should contact police on Hamilton 483300.
(Hamilton Advertiser - Jan 13, 2011)
