Local three-legged dog attacked by Bull Terriers
Seven-year-old Leo, who lost his leg before being rescued by the SPCA last year, suffered an attack by bull terriers while he and his owner were walking in Brummeria.
A Pretoria woman told Rekord of her harrowing experience when her three-legged dog was attacked by two bull terriers while taking a walk in Brummeria.
Heidi Bolton was taking her dog Leo for a walk along Kirkia Street towards Fakkel Street, when the two dogs ran across the road from behind them and attacked.
The two dogs grabbed seven-year-old Leo by the throat and threw him to the ground, Bolton said.
“Each bull terrier was bigger than Leo and there were two of them. As they jumped on Leo who was on his leash, he fell and I nearly fell with him. That was the first I saw of the bull terriers,” she said.
“I screamed my head off and tried to kick the pit bulls off Leo while still holding onto his leash.”
Bolton said the owner of the dogs and his wife came running, as did a neighbour and two men working across the road.
“At one point I think there were at least five people trying to get the pit bulls off Leo,” she said.
The two workers were able to throw buckets of water repeatedly over the pit bulls, enabling the owner and neighbour to remove them.
Bolton said she managed to get the bloodied and bedraggled Leo to the Valley Farm vet, where he spent the night in intensive care.
Leo sustained wounds to his throat, mouth and ear.
“We fetched him 24 hours later, and thank goodness, the wounds are healing well. He is a brave dog.”
For five days after the ordeal, Bolton said Leo “trembled like a leaf” when they tried to take him out of the house but has slowly started walking short distances again.
“I’m now nervous to walk too,” she said.
Bolton’s family adopted Leo in January this year from the SPCA.
In October last year, a passer-by spotted Leo dragging his right hind leg, which was attached only by some skin.
The passer-by contacted the SPCA informing them that the injured dog seemed stray.
After much effort, the bewildered dog was finally caught, given medical attention and taken to safety at the Waltloo SPCA.
“He is the most beautiful and loved dog. He loves being taught things, loves people, dogs, his daily walks and observing the world,” Bolton said,
She said she has tried to make contact with the owner of the bull terriers that attacked Leo to reach an agreement to settle the dog’s medical bill, but has had no luck.
The owner of the dogs, who asked not to be named, apologised for the injuries caused to Leo by his dogs said he understood the severity of the incident.
“Our dogs are always enclosed and kept in our yard. On this specific day, my wife was entering our yard through a motorised gate and during that time, the dog and its owner were walking past. That’s when the incident occurred,” he said.
“Our most sincere apologies and condolences for the injured dog. We love our dogs and can understand that it is not a pleasant experience for anyone.”
He said he was waiting on his legal team to advise him on the legal aspects of the matter before making any commitments towards the incident, “financially or otherwise”.
READ MORE: Brave Leo up for adoption at SPCA Tshwane
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