Alice, an 8-year-old Bichon-Shitzu-cross, and her owner, Diane Le Sueur, 81, were walking to the Centennial Small Dog Park on June 24 when they were set upon by two dogs — an Alsatian and a Rottweiler which nosed their way out of the adjacent Large Dog Park.
Alice was badly injured and both owners rushed her to a vet where she had emergency surgery.
Mrs Le Sueur then went to hospital to be treated for a deep bite in her right hand.
The owners of the two big dogs said they immediately offered to surrender both large dogs for euthanasia if necessary, but were allowed to take them home pending an investigation by Clutha District Council’s animal control team, other council officials and the police.
"This was treated as a serious incident," the council’s manager building and regulatory services manager, Malcolm Sinclair, said.
"Circumstances did not satisfy the requirements for immediate destruction.
"The gate latches on all the entrances were fixed within 24 hours of the incident."
He said the formal investigation required a standard practice "risk matrix ... to determine a risk score", including victim impact, owner attitude, previous history, level of responsibility toward dog control, registration compliance and the likelihood of dogs being a continuing threat.
The dogs had been designated "menacing" and must be muzzled whenever in public.
The owners were made aware of their obligations in compensating Mrs Le Sueur for "all medical and veterinary expenses", and said their insurer and coverage were ample and would be paid once all invoices had been processed.
Mrs Le Sueur was disappointed by what she felt was a lenient decision by the council.
"I’ll never forget it. The sound ... I just watched them eating my dog," she said.
"I’ll never be able to use my thumb properly again."
She said she would never go back to the dog park but was delighted to return as a St John’s Therapy Pets volunteer and visiting Balclutha’s aged care retirement homes.
"Alice was so excited to see them all again and they made a huge fuss over her. They got us a big basket of treats and pet care things and flowers, and all agreed to have her off her lead and let her try to be her old self again."
