Terrifying Masterton dog attack

Keith Bain comforts Zack in the aftermath of the attack and treatment by a vet. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Shocked, shaken but 'could have been worse'

A ferocious dog attack on a golden cocker spaniel being walked by a Masterton man in his 70s left the spaniel with multiple puncture wounds to his throat and the man exhausted and badly shaken from trying to fight off the attacker.

Keith Bain, 71, had been walking Zack, a young dog owned by his niece, along Masonic St, which links Bannister St with Church St, about 9.30am on Thursday when a dog described as a pitbull leapt the front fence of a residential property and attacked.

"It latched on to Zack's throat. I tried to get between the two of them and I was kicking out at the dog and screaming for help. Zack was yelping his head off."

A man rushed to Mr Bain's aid and managed to drag the attacking dog off Zack at which point an exhausted and shocked Mr Bain collapsed on to the roadway. But that was far from the end of the matter, as the pit bull, who had been tossed aside by the good Samaritan, hitting the fence, rallied and came bounding back at Zack. Three staff from a nearby office heard the commotion and set out to help but had to retreat to safety as the dog threatened them, before having a change of heart and leaping back over the fence from where it had come.

During the melee, one of the women who had tried to help fell and injured an ankle and an ambulance had to be summoned to help her.

Police were called, as well as Masterton District Council rangers. Mr Bain said 1-year-old Zack - a "lovely, friendly dog" suffered throat injuries and had to be rushed to a vet. His treatment cost $240. He is now recovering.

Mr Bain said Zack had been on a leash while being walked. He said the attack dog had no collar and was roaming free inside the property.

He had been left wondering what could have been.

"What if that dog had decided to attack a young mother with a child in a stroller, what's to say it wouldn't have happened? I wonder what you have to do to keep safe. Carry mace or something?"

The owner of the attack dog was quickly identified and Masterton District Council rangers rounded up the pit bull, seizing it. It will be destroyed.

Council spokesman Sam Rossiter-Stead said dog attacks in Masterton were not becoming more frequent. Attacks on people will likely be fewer this financial year, ending June 30, than any of the last five years.