15-year-old Blue was attacked in his own yard. He is pictured post-surgery at Vetcare Limited in Masterton who are raising funds for his treatment. Photo / Facebook
15-year-old Blue was attacked in his own yard. He is pictured post-surgery at Vetcare Limited in Masterton who are raising funds for his treatment. Photo / Facebook
The mauling of a 15-year-old dog in Masterton has left its owner feeling "wrenched".
Simon Christie, who lives on Colombo Rd in Masterton, has been left to foot a $1200 vet bill after his huntaway Labrador cross named Blue was attacked in its own yard.
"I had just got homeand I was having some lunch and Blue was sitting outside on the porch sunbathing.
"Then I heard him barking so I ran outside the house to see what the story was."
He said dogs had jumped the fence and one had grabbed Blue by the eyeball.
Dr Heidi Ward-McGrath, Veterinary Director of Vetcare, said Blue's situation was "particularly nasty", because it was a case of an elderly dog in his own yard being "set upon by two pitbulls and a puppy".
"They've latched on around the eye socket and eye and have literally ripped off a lot of the tissue surrounding the eye and around his head," she said.
"Just the power of the jaws have made quite a mess."
Blue required a general anaesthetic and plastic surgery to put the linings of his eyelid back together and the eye socket back in place.
Mr Christie disclosed to Vetcare that he had recently became unemployed and was now on the benefit.
Dr McGrath has made a call for donations to help Blue's recovery on Vetcare's Facebook page.
