A dog that attacked and killed a puppy in front of its owners in Rutherford was left in the community for more than three weeks before being euthanased.
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Ron Ferguson was walking with his wife, their two-year-old daughter Sabrina and their family pet, a King Charles spaniel called Elton, on January 9, when a large dog attacked the six-month-old puppy.
The attacking dog leapt the fence of the yard where it was being kept in Second Street.
Mr Ferguson described the attacking dog as a large “husky-looking” type of canine.
“It latched on and just shook Elton,” he said.
“It wouldn’t let go. I raced around looking for a vet but Elton had died.
“My two-year-old didn’t need to see her pet destroyed in front of her.”
Mr Ferguson said he believed the dog was euthanased after the incident because it had been deemed dangerous.
But he was shocked when he saw the dog again on Saturday, weeks after his family watched their small pet savaged to death in front of their eyes.
“Imagine my disgust yesterday to discover this dangerous animal still roaming Rutherford,” he said.
“I lost a beautiful puppy to this killer dog.
“If the next victim is a small child then who will be responsible? The owner, the ranger, the council?”
Mr Ferguson said the attack was unprovoked and occurred mid-morning in a residential street where he and his family regularly walked.
“The ranger told us the dog was going to be put down, but I saw it roaming around on Saturday,” he said.
Maitland City Council confirmed yesterday that the dog had been euthanased but could not provide any more details on the why the animal had remained in the community for weeks after it had killed the puppy.
“Council has been advised this morning by the RSPCA that the dog has been euthanased,” a council spokesman said.