It was a pleasant stroll until along the path came what looked like a friendly tan and white corgi that was not on a leash.
The owner, an older woman, was some 300 metres behind us. She yelled out ‘my dog is OK, just saying hello!’
I must admit my definition of hello is of a pleasant experience, for just as the dogs became close the corgi snarled and latched on to one of our dog’s face, gouging the eyelid and lower jaw.
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READ NOWI intervened to separate the dogs, mindful of not coming in to the middle of this vicious attack. The corgi ran off.
By this time the owner, who was now casually strolling up to us, was told about the attack and that the area required dogs to be on leash.
The owner’s response was less than supportive and full of expletives. She then ran off across Tompkins Park hurling abuse at us, as blood gushed from the wounds on our dog.
An elderly man with his dog stopped to check if our dog was all right. As he did so, the unleashed dog and unleashed owner made their way off across the park.
In reporting the incident to the ranger, no record of the dog was found and mention was then made of the increasing number of such attacks and that the rangers patrolled the area and did their best.
That is strange as we have been walking our dogs for two years and have never seen a ranger. Tompkins Park between 4pm and 6pm most days is full of dogs running free, in most cases without incident and those owners have control of their pets.
This owner did not even have control of herself.
Our dog is doing well.
If it keeps this person and her dog at home, we are now walking with a camera to record her and her dog when next sighted so the rangers can take action and we may all enjoy the park.
Name and address supplied.
TO the coward who sped up behind me while I was driving along looking for our turn-off:
I hope you sleep well after pulling in front of me causing me to brake, then getting out of your green truck and smashing in the side rear window with a tyre jack while there were two frightened children in the car, one of whom was covered with glass, and an older woman.