Three Laois residents and their dogs were the victims of a frenzied dog-attack while out walking in Portlaoise town this weekend.
The harrowing experience took place at approximately 10am on Saturday morning, when friends, who were each walking their dogs, were set upon by two Alsatian / German Shepherd dogs on the old Knockmay Road.
One of the people involved spoke with LaoisToday and explained exactly what happened, saying they wished to remain anonymous.
“Myself, my two friends and our three dogs were out walking on the old Knockmay Road near the entrance to Clonminham Industrial Estate where the Ken Black warehouse is,” they said.
“After the hump bridge, there are a few breaks in the fencing and two large Alsatian / German Shepherds came through the fence and darted across the road to us and our dogs.
“Both latched onto my dog and one then broke free and went for my friend’s dog.
“By sheer luck, both of our dogs were wearing heavy duty harnesses, that took most of the brunt of the bite and these dogs couldn’t break the skin.”
Evidence of teeth marks can be found on the dog’s harness, as well as on the dog’s skin (pictures below).
One of the dogs who was attacked is a stability assistance dog, trained to help a young child with a motor disability.
There are now fears that this attack will change the dog’s temperament, leading to the need for re-training – a long process – or worse, that the dog may never again be able to work as a stability assistance dog.
“A call to 999 was sent through to Portlaoise Garda Station and a full report was taken and they are due to come to me for an in person interview in due course,” the victim said.
“A call was made by my friend to the dog warden and she was told without video evidence of the event nothing can be done – ‘let me just get my phone while I’m being attacked here‘.”
“All the dogs and people involved are fine, although we’re all badly shook up,” they said.
“I do not recommend anyone walk this road – especially with dogs or small children.”
Following the attack, local County Councillors were contacted with a view to taking action.
“The fence needs to be fixed where there’s huge holes in it,” one victim said.
“These dogs are out. They should be better cordoned off, because they have free reign – they’re not muzzled and there’s no collar on them.
“You can see they’re very well looked-after dogs, but they’ve been trained to be vicious.
“We were lucky there was three of us there to help fight off these dogs, because if it was just one of us, who knows how bad it could have been.”
The Garda Press Office were contacted and confirmed that “Gardaí responded to reports of an incident involving several dogs on Old Knockmay Road, Portlaoise, County Laois, on Saturday, April 13.
“Enquiries are ongoing,” they said.
