Dog accused of attack is a loved family pet

Misty the mauled bichon is a "stoic little fighter."

A dog impounded after it allegedly mauled another dog in a family friendly park this month is a "well-loved and cared for family pet", its owner says.

The dog's owners contacted the Bay of Plenty Times following a story about the attack, which left a nearly 12-year-old pet seriously wounded and its owner "horrified".

Warning: graphic image below

Tauranga woman Judi Casey arrived at Memorial Park several days ago to walk her dog Misty but the two barely made it across the road when the bichon poodle was attacked by a border collie which had run out from the bushes. Miss Casey was unable to remove the dog herself but Misty was saved by a bystander. Misty was seriously wounded, needing hours of surgery. Miss Casey has been left traumatised.

The dog's owner told the Bay of Plenty Times they were suffering too "as our pet has been impounded and will be a loss to us".

Tauranga City Council is yet to determine what will happen with the dog, which remains in its custody. "We are totally sorry for Misty and her owner Judi," the owner said. "We are glad that Misty will recover and are more than willing to cover the vet's expenses."

Miss Casey said Misty was "a stoic little fighter" but she was still struggling to overcome the attack. "We both are," Miss Casey said. She said she had no doubt the dog's owner was feeling awful "but you can't have dogs like that, out of control".

"Even though with what's happened, I don't necessarily want that dog put down but people have said it could have been a child. My whole thing is that I should be able to go into a public domain and walk my dog on a lead, as she was, without nearly being killed ... "

Miss Casey said she was still "horrified" at the incident, and no longer had the confidence to visit parks or areas where dogs might be. "It's just terrible."

It is not known whether the dog's owner will be prosecuted or if the dog will be euthanased. Tauranga animal services leader Brent Lincoln, who is investigating the incident, could not be reached yesterday.

Jorg Thamm, vet, with Misty who has endured at least four hours of surgery for serious wounds after being attacked by another dog at a popular Tauranga park. Photo/file