Fred Hall has spent $5000 on surgery and ongoing treatments on his Maltese cross terrier, Oscar, after he was attacked in Ralph Willis Park in Williamstown on November 25.
Oscar required 100 stitches across his back and shoulders.
Mr Hall said he went for his regular walk at the on-lead dog park with Oscar at 4.45pm when the German shepherd “pounced.”
“He thrust my dog into his jaws and flung him around and our dog was just howling and howling,” he said.
“I kicked the dog a few times at the top of the shoulder but it wouldn’t let go so I then had to kick it in the jaw until it lost its grip.”
Mr Hall said the German shepherd lunged another three times before a bystander came to the rescue and scared the dog off.
“I picked Oscar up and took him to vet and hoped like hell he wouldn’t die,” he said. “There was just so much blood.”
Mr Hall said the German shepherd was ferocious and was worried for other pet owners if the dog wasn’t caught.
He said dog owners needed to take greater responsibility.
“People need to be more mindful if their dog is off the leash and of their dog getting out of their backyard,” he said.
Mr Hall said he saw Oscar as a family member and he didn’t think twice about paying the vet costs.
Hobsons Bay Council rangers have conducted door knocks and patrols in the area to try to identify the offending dog.
The council has issued five fines to dog owners for not having their dog on a lead in 2015-16.
Hobsons Bay Council corporate services director Tammi Rose said owners had to ensure their dogs were securely confined on their properties to minimize the possibility of attacks.
“While most attacks are minor rushing and menacing incidents, animal attacks are traumatic and the bottom line is pet owners are ultimately responsible for the actions of their animals,” she said.
(Herald Sun AU - Dec 17, 2016)
