EMERGENCY surgery saved the life of a household pet when he was savagely attacked by a Rottweiler in Southill last Saturday.
Gene McGuane, (66), who lives in Carew Park was horrified when her eigh-year-old Scottish terrier, Blackie, who she describes as her “closest companion,” was set upon outside her home by a Rottweiler roaming around the estate.
“I left Blackie outside for a wee, like I do every evening and when I went to let him back in, the Rottweiler came bounding down after him.
“He went for him full force and started tearing him around the road, he rolled him over and started biting his stomach,” a distraught Gene told the Limerick Post. She said she was horrified by the shrill barking of the dog when it was attacked.
“Without thinking I went over and just grabbed Blackie and brought him back to the house as quickly as I could.
“His stomach was torn open, so I called a girl from Limerick Animal Welfare who arranged for him to be collected and brought to the vet”.
At the clinic, emergency surgery was performed to stitch up and repair Blackie’s wounds.
The cost of the surgery, including the aftercare the dog received came to €500, which has put a strain on Gene’s finances.
“Now I have to find the money to pay the bill, but I don’t care because he’s definitely worth it,” said Gene who revealed that she had hesitated about contacting the Limerick Post for fear of reprisal or intimidation.. “I was worried about reporting it, but if the next attack was on a child I would never forgive myself. I certainly won’t be leaving my little man out on his own again”. This is not the first time, however, that Blackie has faced and survived adversity. He was originally rescued by Limerick Animal Welfare four years ago.
Former Limerick Animal Welfare volunteer Aila Maloney said:
“I found him under a car in Garryowen and he was a nervous wreck. He was in poor condition and had been kicked around like a football”. Gene, who had been looking after dogs for the charity at weekends said she fell in love with Blackie the minute she saw him. “I immediately said to myself, he’s not going back to the shelter – now he’s my house dog and he’s spoiled rotten”.
Patricia Boylan of Carew/Kincora Estate Management said she had received several complaints from residents about two Rottweilers roaming the estate without muzzles and leads.
The Control of Dogs Act 1989 states that Rottweilers must be kept on a short strong lead by a person over 16 years who is capable of controlling them. They must also be muzzled whenever they are in a public place and wear a collar bearing the name and address of their owner at all times.
