By JOLENE OGLE
A LOCAL woman whose dog was viciously attacked while walking in a park is calling for the owner of the other dog to come forward.
Sunshine Beach local Melinda Gregor has been left with an injured dog and a hefty vet bill after a vicious dog attack on Wednesday 22 July.
Melinda said she was walking Lola, her four-year-old cavoodle, down Ferris Street, Sunshine Beach, about 7am when an unleashed dog ran up to her.
Melinda said she and Lola were approached by an unleashed labrador first before another dog, believed to be an American staffordshire cross, came running up from behind the labrador.
“A dark coloured dog not on a leash started charging up the street,” she said.
“A lady was sitting on a seat in the park perhaps 100m away from us. The dog did not stop when it got to us and latched straight onto Lola. It was horrific.”
Melinda said she was able to pick up Lola but the dog kept jumping up to get to Lola, pulling her legs and biting her on the back and tail areas.
While neighbours and other walkers came to Melinda and Lola’s aid, Lola has been left with deep wounds to her lower back including the tearing of muscle from bone, plus stitches in several places including under her tail and lower back, while a large wound has been left opened to heal from the inside out.
“Lola has severe injuries and spent three days at the Noosa District Animal Hospital,” Melinda said.
Neither Melinda nor the witnesses got a good look at the dog or the owner, who, she said, took the dog away without asking if Lola and Melinda were OK.
“The neighbours and I were all in shock about the incident and did not get the name or photo of the owner or dogs,” she said.
“So I am asking all the residents of the wider Noosa community if you know of these dogs or the owner, could you please call Jonathan at Noosa Council on phone 5329 6322 or email Jonathon.marshall@noosa.qld.gov.au .”
Melinda said Noosa Council had been “fabulous” in dealing with the complaint, but she was worried another dog or a small child might be attacked next.
“With all the young children playing in Ferris Park, I think as a community we really need to quickly find the (person) in this incident, so this does not happen again to another dog or worse still a small child,” she said.
“Lola is recovering slowly and has many stitches and large holes that will hopefully heal, however she has been traumatised by the event and does not want to go walking in the area.
“As most dog owners would know, Animal hospital visits are not cheap and this has been a hefty expense that I feel the owner of the other dog should be responsible for.”
