Family pets savaged in the park
By Lynda O'Donoghue Donnelly
A DEVASTATED dog owner has told how two beloved family pets were savaged by another dog while out walking last week – leaving one dead and the other with more than 30 stitches.
The two Papillon dogs, Oscar and Raffles, were set upon by a Staffordshire Terrier who was running loose in Glenaulin Park along with two other dogs, just before 10pm on Thursday.
Owner of the small dogs, Gerry Kennedy, told The Echo that as he bent down to pick up Oscar and stop the attack another dog grabbed Raffles in his mouth and ran off.
A short while later Gerry found Raffles 300 metres away near the California Hills side of the park and the pet was dead.
Gerry said: “The two dogs savaged the Papillon and ran off into the California Hills Park. The owner of the attacking dogs had no control over them.
“We have had the dogs nearly since birth – for ten-and-a-half years. We are very distressed by the events. The surviving dog had extensive injuries and needed emergency treatment under anaesthetic to deal with these wounds.”
Gerry, who works with Fine Gael TD Derek Keating, wants to warn people about the dangers of allowing large dogs off the lead around other animals.
The incident was reported to dog wardens in both South Dublin County Council and Dublin City Council who referred the matter to the Gardaí.
Mary Maguire, Environment Section of the council, said: “The matter was brought to our attention by the dogs’ owner. He reported that one of his dogs was seized by the offending dog, who then ran away with him.
“The dog was later found dead by his owner at an alternative location. It is believed that the ‘offending’ dog owner resides outside of the council’s administrative area and for which our warden service had no remit.”
The city council is also looking into the incident and said: “On foot of a complaint received by Dublin City Council the day after the incident occurred, the dog warden service did a patrol of the area but found nothing. Any further investigation is a matter for the Gardaí.”
Dublin Mid-West Deputy Keating said: “Dog Warden services in the area need to be stepped up and patrols need to happen in the evening when most people walk their dogs in order to ensure compliance with the Control of Dogs Act and particularly to help avoid incidents like this through effective enforcement, particularly when dangerous breeds are involved.
“You don’t have to walk far to see dangerous breeds in public places without muzzles or leads, it’s a disaster waiting to happen.”