A MAN has described how he and others tried to shield a mother and her young son from a loose Staffordshire Bull Terrier after it savaged their small pet dog in yet another dog attack in Limerick.
The eyewitness, who did not wish to be named, said it was a “lucky” no people were injured in the traumatic attack.
The pitbull died after being restrained by two other brave men who jumped in to assist the women and child, the witness said.
It is the third known serious dog attack in Limerick in the last month, coming in the wake of the death of Nicole Morey, who was killed by her dogs in Fedamore on June 4, and serious facial injuries were caused to eight-year-old Jackson Flynn when he was bitten by a dog in the People’s Park on May 29.
Gardaí said they were investigating Tuesday night’s dog attack, which occurred around 7pm at the popular Castletroy Greenway walking and cycling amenity, located adjacent to houses in the Willowfield Green/Woodhaven housing estates.
Bitten ‘chunks’ of flesh
The witness said he came upon a woman and a little boy who had been out walking their pet dog that was being attacked by a “pitbull or staffy type dog” and the woman was “covered in blood” from her dog’s injuries, as she and another passerby tried to separate the dogs.
The witness said the loose pitbull “chewed through” the other dog’s leash and had bitten “chunks” of flesh from its little body.
The witness said a male bypasser “jumped on the (pitbull) dog to pull it off the lady’s dog”.
“When I arrived, the woman was quite distressed and covered in blood. Her dog had been viciously attacked and it’s back leg skin was missing, there were chunks taken out of its body.”
The witness said “the woman was quite visibly upset, in hysterics, and I just picked her up off the ground and kind of moved her at this stage. The other man had the other dog under control, kind of holding the dog down.”
The witness described the attacking dog as “a powerful dog”.
Garda sources confirmed the attacking dog that was roaming loose in the area was a “pitbull” type dog.
“What was quite worrying was the area was full of young kids just playing in the sunshine,” the witness told local radio station, Limerick’s Live 95fm in a separate interview.
“What worried me is that I called the Gardaí, as did a couple of other people, and the Gardaí didn’t arrive for over an hour after the incident was phoned in. I called the dog warden and got no answer.
“For such a serious attack and what has gone on in recent times in Limerick, I would have thought the response time would have been quicker than that.”
“The (pitbull) was wearing a collar with a telephone number of the owner on it so I’m sure the Gardaí will be in contact with them.
“It absolutely is an owner’s responsibility to keep their dog in check and on a lead, but we were there for the bones of an hour and nobody came looking for that dog.
“It might have escaped out of a back garden and the owner might not have been home – but a dog of that size should have no way of getting out.”
‘This just can’t keep happening’
Referencing the spate of recent attacks, the witness said: “This just can’t keep happening. You know, we’ve had too many big stories and shocking incidents recently like this, it can’t keep happening.”
“Under no circumstances should a dog with that amount of power be out, roaming free, to cause such damage to another animal or person.”
When asked for comment, a Garda spokeswoman said that “Gardaí were alerted to an incident involving two dogs at a residential estate in Castletroy, on Tuesday evening, a dog which was in the control of its owner was attacked by a second dog.“
“The offending dog was restrained by a number of persons in the area.
“No persons were injured during the course of the incident. The dog which was attacked was seriously injured.
“Investigations are ongoing in relation to this matter. The offending dog is now deceased.”
Blood and scratch marks could be seen on the pavement where the dog attack occurred.
Local TD Kieran O’Donnell, who attended at the scene overnight after he was contacted by concerned residents, said: “I know that Gardaí are carrying out investigations, it’s something that I’m very conscious of – that people want to feel safe and they want to ensure that dogs are kept under control.”
“As a TD in this area, I want to ensure that people feel safe, that dogs are kept under control, and that everyone can go about to daily lives without fear.”
Deputy O’Donnell said Minister Humphreys was this Wednesday meeting an expert group she had set up on the issue of dog control chaired by former Garda Deputy Commissioner John Twomey and that “whatever recommendations that come forward to the Minister, she will take those very seriously, to ensure that we have a society where dogs are kept under control and people feel safe”.
A local woman said the area was “not safe” as there were lots of dogs not on leashes.
“My main concern is that a dog will attack me or my dog or my kids. Every day you will see at least four dogs here off a leash,” she said.
“Nobody wants to come down here and see blood like this.”