The Sunshine Coast owner of a dachshund has shared her devastation after her pet was mauled to death by another dog while out on a walk last week.
Tiffany Torrie said her mother was walking her dog and two other family pets – all dachshunds – in Caloundra last week when the attack occurred.
While on the track, Torrie said her mother passed a couple walking two large dogs.
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All five of the dogs were on leads, however, one of the big dogs, a bull Arab breed, managed to break free once the two groups had passed each other.
“When their backs were turned, the bull Arab just broke free and came running towards my mum and the dogs,” she said.
Torrie said the bull Arab leapt at her four-year-old dachshund, named Duff, and began to attack it.
“The dog just grabbed hold of Duff and he was killed pretty much instantly,” she said.
“It’s just so cruel because he was just the sweetest little boy. He was just happy to do his own thing.
“Once you were in, you were in for life.”
The two other terrified dachshunds ran off and Torrie said it took five hours to find one of them.
Torrie said the couple who were taking the bull Arab and other dog for a walk were pet sitters. There is no suggestion the pet sitters hold any responsibility for the attack.
Sunshine Coast Council rangers were called to the scene and the bull Arab was impounded.
“They have got the dog in the council pound but they can’t progress it any further until the owners are back from overseas,” Torrie said.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson confirmed the fatal dog attack was still being investigated.
“Council can confirm the attacking dog was surrendered by the owners to Sunshine Coast Council,” the spokesperson said.
The council is calling for any witnesses or anyone with any information about the attack to come forward.
“Council takes community safety seriously and requests that all dog attacks are reported – even where a party’s details may be unknown,” the spokesperson said.
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Under regulations for local councils in Queensland, a pet can be declared a dangerous dog if it has seriously attacked another dog or person, or if an authorised person believes it could do so in the future.
Dangerous dogs are required to be muzzled in public and owners are required to have the dog de-sexed, provide proper fencing and pay higher registration fees.
Torrie has started an online petition calling for stricter regulations to make dog owners more accountable.
Under new laws passed in Queensland parliament in April, these five dog breeds have been banned – dogo Argentino, fila Brasileiro, Japanese tosa, American pit bull terrier or pit bull terrier, and the perro de Presa Canario.
The new legislation also includes a doubling of fines for owners who fail to take reasonable steps to prevent a dog attack to more than $92,000.
The owners of dogs that kill or seriously injure a person face maximum fines up to $108,000 and up to three years jail.
Do you have a story? Contact reporter Emily McPherson at emcpherson@nine.com.au
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