Rowville man praises good Samaritans after being mauled by dog that almost killed his pooch

AUSTRALIA -- A MAN who was mauled by a dog which almost killed his own little pooch while on a morning walk, is praising the kindness of five strangers who rushed to their aid.

But Rowville's Stuart Mackie said the owner, who originally surrendered the dog to be put down after the attack, has since decided to wait for a court decision to determine the dog's future.

The dog has been ­impounded.

Mr Mackie was walking along Stud Rd, Rowville, about 7am on Monday, December 2, when his eight-year-old pomeranian Kelly was savaged by a large dog.

"A lady had yelled out to warn me there was a dog loose," Mr Mackie said.

"It had no owner and it had nobody holding its lead."

He said the large dog attacked Kelly and he tackled it to the ground in a bid to get the dog to let go.

Mr Mackie said the woman who had warned him about the dog then flagged down passing motorists, Neil Gordon, and his stepson, Josh Davies, who came to his rescue.

Mr Mackie said the two strangers leapt out their car and helped wrestle the dog off Kelly but the dog attacked him and Kelly again.

"I thought my dog died - it actually went all limp but she was obviously in shock," he said.

While the duo restrained the dog and called police, Mr Mackie picked up his dog and ran down the road looking for a vet - before coming across kind stranger number four, Shirley Thomson.

Ms Thomson offered to drive Mr Mackie and his wounded dog to the Boronia Veterinary Clinic.
While there, the vet, kind stranger number five, offered to halve Kelly's medical bills.

Mr Mackie was covered in blood after the attack and needed stitches to his arm and hands. He wants the impounded dog to be put down.

Knox Council spokeswoman Erin Marie said the council could not comment as the case was still under investigation.

(Herald Sun - Dec 17, 2013)