Pet lover issues warning after beach attack on dog

Pet lover issues warning after beach attack on dog

18 January 2012 - by DAVID TELFORD

AN impassioned plea has been issued to dog owners to keep their animals under control at all times.

It comes after two pit bull-type dogs savagely attacked a Collie belonging to a Downpatrick family at Ballyhornan beach on Monday afternoon.

The nine year-old dog suffered horrific injuries in the frenzied attack which has prompted dog owner Francis Morgan to appeal to all dog owners to act responsibly.

He said he dreads to think what might have happened if one of his young grandchildren had been walking along the beach on Monday with his wife Patricia and daughter Brenda when the attack took place.

The drama unfolded just after 4.30pm as the Morgan family pet Sheeba was playing in the water. Mr. Morgan, who wasn’t with his wife and daughter at the time, said taking the dog to Ballyhornan beach is a regular occurrence.

He said Sheeba was off her lead when a man with two Pit-Bull type dogs passed his wife and daughter. Mr. Morgan said the other dogs were in a leather harness and on a lead.

“The man had walked about half-a-mile past where Sheeba was in the water when he let his dogs go free. They immediately turned and charged towards Sheba, with both dogs attacking her.

“One grabbed Sheeba by the ear while the other was attacking her body, biting her neck and side which opened a huge gash which required stitches. My wife and daughter tried to free our dog but the other animals wouldn’t let go.”

Mr. Morgan said the owner of the other dogs then arrived and initially had difficulty stopping them attacking Sheeba. He said when the owner did manage to control his dogs, he apologised and told his wife and daughter that nothing like this had ever happened before.

“The man also told my wife that one of his dogs would be put down at which point she took Sheeba home before we both later took her to the vet,” he continued.

Mr. Morgan said his wife is still in a state of shock given the horrific attack she witnessed and revealed he doesn’t know the identity of the man whose dogs attacked Sheeba.

He continued: “My message to him and to other dog owners is to make sure their animals are under control at all times. I shudder to think what could have happened on Monday if one of my granddaughters had been at the beach.

“What happened was truly horrific and I hope nothing like this ever happens again. Dog owners have a responsibility to control their pets and if my wife and daughter had not been in close proximity to Sheba her injuries could have been even more serious.”

Mr. Morgan said he has reported Monday’s attack to the PSNI and also informed the Down Council department responsible for dog control about what happened.

He added: “What happened at Ballyhornan was truly horrific. The owner of the dogs which attacked Sheeba needs to deal with this and ensure something like this never happens again.”