Pitbull put down after savage attack on pet dog

By Mary Dennehy

A WARNING has been issued over the importance of restraining dogs while in public, after a pensioner and his pet Collie were savagedly set upon by a pitbull while walking through their estate last Thursday morning.

The 71-year-old man, who wishes to remain unnamed, was walking through Kilnamanagh with his eight-year-old Collie when they were attacked from behind by a pitbull – which, according to the family, went straight for their dog’s throat.

The wife of the man attacked told The Echo: “The pitbull was out on the road on his own and approached my husband from behind and went straight for our dog’s jugular.

“It was a frenzied attack and when my husband tried to pick up our dog, the pitbull went for his arms and hands and started to bite at his ankles.

“My husband is doing okay, he has a few puncture wounds from the pitbull, which are slowly healing, but he is pretty traumatised from the incident.

“However, it was touch-and-go for our dog, we thought she might have to lose a leg.

“She has injuries to all four legs, one of which is broken and another one was so badly bitten it had no skin left on it.
“She also has serious injuries on her neck and stomach and is very quiet.

“She’s on painkillers and anti-biotics and the vet is monitoring her. . . we’re hopeful she’ll make a full recovery.”

The Echo understands that the pitbull, which had escaped from a house in the area, was reported to Gardaí at Tallaght, who contacted the dog warden. The warden arrived on the scene quickly and removed the pitbull.

“I’m a big dog lover and nobody wants to see any dog being picked up by the warden,” the woman said.

“However, this dog should have been properly secured at home, and when in public should be on a lead and muzzled.

“There were kids out playing when this pitbull was running wild – I think this should be a wake-up call to anybody with dogs.

“Dogs need to be restrained properly. Anybody with breeds like a pitbull must make sure that they cannot escape from the house and when out, they need to be muzzled. All dogs can be unpredictable but pitbulls won’t let go if they get a hold of something.

“People are responsible for their dogs and need to be aware of the potential danger their dog can pose to children and other dogs.”

When contacted by The Echo, a spokeswoman for South Dublin County Council confirmed that the pitbull had been put down following the attack.

She said: “On August 4 our Dog Warden service was alerted to an incident with a stray pit bull in [Kilnamanagh] by the local Gardaí.

“The location of the pitbull was established and it was seized in accordance with powers under the Control of Dogs Act 1986.

“The dog was subsequently euthanised on our instruction.”