That day, many years ago, came flooding back with vivid clarity when I read the story in yesterday's edition about Misty the bichon poodle which was nearly mauled to death.
Misty's owner, Judi Casey, went to Memorial Park, got her dog out of her car and before she could do anything a wandering dog viciously attacked her beloved pet.
The attack and subsequent photo of Misty, showing a mass of stitches over her tiny body after a four-hour operation, left me feeling sick.
It's hard to imagine the horror this poor woman faced in unsuccessfully trying to kick the offending dog off her pet. She is lucky a good samaritan nearby intervened and, using both hands, got the dog off.
Misty was left howling in agony.
Both she and Miss Casey are understandably traumatised.
The owner, parked nearby, came over and took his dog away. Luckily the good Samaritan who helped Miss Casey got his details.
What surprises me is the accused dog is said to be a border collie, often talked about as a highly intelligent breed. When I first heard about the story and not knowing the facts I had assumed it would be a bull terrier or pit-bull type, which are often in the headlines.
This attack follows one in February in which a dog, said to be a pit bull cross, attacked an 11-year-old whippet on Cambridge Rd and left it with gaping wounds to its left front leg.
The attack on Misty comes just days after the Bay of Plenty Times reported that a high-profile city councillor had called for a crackdown on irresponsible dog owners and their out-of-control pets on Tauranga beaches.
Papamoa councillor Steve Morris says the city has the tools to control the problem but needs to enforce the issue better.
Residents have approached him over the past 18 months objecting to dogs bounding up to them on the beach and even jumping up on to their children.
Cr Morris believes a small number of people unable to properly control their dogs is to blame.
He questions whether animal services staff numbers should be increased to better police bylaws.
Complaints have also been received of dogs attacking other dogs on beaches, he says.
There were 359 complaints between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2014, about dogs attacking other animals in Tauranga, and 209 regarding dogs attacking people. Latest figures show there are about 8000 dogs registered in Western Bay of Plenty district and 11,001 in Tauranga.
DOGS can be man's best friend but they're never far from the news - too often for the wrong reasons. We read with regularity about dog attacks.
So why is this? The answer? Their owners.
I remember a case when we were having a picnic at Lake Okataina and my daughter, then aged 3, was sitting with us and a dog came rushing up to her. I hadn't seen the dog and it was upon her before I could even move. Thankfully, it didn't attack but that didn't make it right.
I have lost count the number of times I have seen unrestrained dogs run up to other people on beaches, parks or footpaths, just as described by Cr Morris.
It's happened to me and each time I was left bracing if I would have to defend myself and unsure of whether I was facing an exuberant, friendly dog - or an angry one.
This is not the dog's fault. Dogs are dogs and will do what comes naturally.
But there seems to be a culture among a minority of dog owners of simply not caring if their dog harasses other people and their dogs.
These owners are irresponsible.
I agree with Cr Morris. The council needs to look at this issue seriously.
How long will it be before we have a tragic incident involving a young child?
In Misty's case, disgusting is the only way I can describe what happened.
Animal services staff are investigating and have impounded what is believed to be the offending dog.
A decision is expected early next week regarding the animal.
There are a few possible outcomes - including involving the police and court action.
If council staff are satisfied about the facts and believe they have the right dog and owner, then this case should go to court.
A properly considered decision needs to be made over the animal's future.
