Staffordshire bull terrier attack in Castledermot

A WOMAN from Castledermot ended up with veterinary bills of almost €200 after an unshackled and unmuzzled Staffordshire Bull Terrier
mauled her 12-year-old dog Buster whilst out walking in a field on Wednesday 2 October.

“I wasn’t attacked, thank God, but I thought I was. I was out walking in the fields, with permission, and then out of nowhere this lad comes. He’s a big lad, but with no collar or lead,” she said.

“I know where he comes from ... but I’d be afraid of my life to call up there.

“I’ve notified the dog warden in Ballitore, and he can call and check for a licence, and if there is a licence there’s nothing I can do.

“I’m still waiting for the gardaí to get back to me. I had to bring him (Buster) to Brophy’s vet for staples, and it cost me €199.

“If I had been attacked I wouldn’t have had a hope, I was two fields in off the road. I would prefer if the gardai or the dog warden were to call up to the owner’s house.

“I don’t want to target a specific breed, but I do for the owners, because there was no lead or muzzle. I have a neighbour with an XL Bully dog, and he’s very well behaved. 

"It’s the owners who have to teach them right from wrong. There’s a good few of us that go walking in the evenings, maybe nine or 10 of us with dogs, and there’s no problems. 

"I had to turn my back to the attack, and there would have been people in the Abbeylands who would have heard me. It’s always the dogs who get blamed, but it’s always the owners’ responsibility,” she concluded.