Dogs kill horse in savage attack

Savagely mauled: Starfire was put down after a dog attack (Image supplied)



A horse had to be put down after it suffered severe injuries in a savage dog attack, it was revealed yesterday.

The owners of the 15-year-old mare warned that dog attacks could be made on other horses  or even children.

Gail Wright, who owned Starfire with two friends, said: We want the public to know so they can be extra vigilant.

You wouldnt want this to happen to another animal or especially a child.

Ms Wright, 75, from Southampton, with friends Andrea Gannon and Scott and Francesca Swainson, adopted Starfire about five years ago and stabled her in an abandoned quarry off Georges Bay Road.

Ms Wright said that a horrified Ms Gannon found the horse badly bitten and covered in blood when she went to feed her last Thursday.

She added: She immediately called the vet and then called me and my husband and the other owners.

She had injuries in numerous places. At that time we didnt know what had happened but to us they looked like dog bites. Her rear right leg was severely damaged. Her two front legs had been bitten and there was a massive injury to her neck and jaw along with multiple smaller injuries.

Ms Wright said: We stayed with her until the vet arrived. I just kept thinking how horrendous this must have been for her.

Ms Wright said that the vet later confirmed that the injuries were caused by dog bites, but was unable to say if the attack involved more than one.

She added that Starfires injuries were so bad, they had no option but to have her put down.

Ms Wright said: We didnt want her to die in this way. Were all very upset for her.

She was certainly loved by all of us and she suffered  it was not the way she should have died at all.

Ms Wright added that Starfire had slowed down later in life, but had been a fiery horse earlier in life.

She said: When I met her she was an older lady, so I think she had calmed down a bit by then as most people do when they get older.

Ms Wright added that she had been unable to trace the dog or its owners, but that she had alerted the Animal Warden service.

She said that she and the other owners thought it was important to warn the public.

Ms Wright added: We wanted the public to know from a safety perspective because we would never forgive ourselves if something similar happened to somebody else. Ms Gannon, from Sandys, said that Starfire was quirky and stubborn with a very definite mind of her own.

She added: She got upset and vocal when you were late for her usual feeding time.

But she was also gentle and loving, patient with children and great around other animals when friends dogs visited or when she met dogs on the Railway Trail.