A LA Lucia resident is still reeling from shock after his 12-year-old dog was attacked by an unleashed German Shepherd. The terrifying ordeal occurred on Saturday at about 6pm as David Hanson was walking his dog, Leah, a staffie/bull terrier on Addison Drive.
The attack lasted just seconds and Leah suffered lacerations to her head, face and two puncture holes on her neck.
“The dog rushed out of the open gate and latched on to Leah. He had his jaws right on her neck, and then bit the side of her face. I was yelling at the owner to do something, but he just stood there. He didn’t help at all,” said Hanson. “I was thinking, ‘I am going to lose my dog. My dog is going to die’.
“Leah is so docile that she didn’t even try and fight back or react. I had to pull her by her leash just to get away from the attack. She was bleeding profusely from the neck wound. I took her straight to the vet and they had to clean out the wounds.”
Hanson who runs the NPO Puppy SOS, which rescues puppies, said he feared the worst after the attack.
“Leah has nursed and looked after hundreds of puppies who I’ve fostered. She’s like my child, she’s my life. I was just stressing and panicking the whole time. She’s been fine since then and hasn’t suffered psychologically. My other dog, Mika, who I had on a leash in the other hand was pretty shaken up.
The former Middlesbrough native has now had to change his route after the attack. This is the third time his dog has been attacked by the same dog. In total, his trips to the vet has cost R10 000.
“I have pet insurance, but it’s not the monetary value, it’s the fact that the owner did nothing to stop or prevent it. He just stood there and smiled. He threatened to kill me and shoot Leah if I ever walked my dogs past his house again,” Hanson said.
Last month a dog was viciously attacked on uMhlanga Beach by three Rottweilers.
