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A WOMAN has taken to walking around a reserve with a large stick as dog owners let their pets run loose. A wallaby was recently mauled in a strip of land which runs at the back of housing at Springdale Heights. Police had to shoot the animal, which had large gashes taken out of its face and its eyes pecked out. Angela Lownie was walking with her young grandsons, aged five and seven, in an area at the back of Bambooka Place on Saturday. They noticed the injured native animal and called police for assistance. “I was there two days ago and someone had two staffies off a lead,” Ms Lownie said. “While they’re supposed to be lovely dogs, they supposedly have quite a grip if they get hold of you. “My daughter was there a little while ago and there was an incident when a dog was off its leash and came running up to her. “She had her youngest child in a pram. “The owners became really abusive to her.” Albury Council statistics show German Shepherds, Staffies and Jack Russell Terriers are most likely to be involved in local attacks. There has been a spike in incidents, which generally occur when dogs are not restrained. Council figures released in July show there had been 10 incidents in one six week period. Ms Lownie, who is visiting from Coffs Harbour, said she had seen “quite vicious dogs” not on leads in the area. “Now when I go there I have to take a very heavy stick,” she said of the green strip. “I’m quite nervous.” The dead wallaby was wrapped in a blanket and Ms Lownie was waiting for council staff to take it away. She praised the actions of an Albury police sergeant who euthanised the animal. Her grandchildren were left upset by the incident, she said. Council rangers can fine people who don’t keep their dog on a leash when in public. Dogs can also be classed as a public nuisance, menacing or dangerous and given restrictions. There were 37 dog attacks in the Albury area in the 2016/17 financial year. That was down from 47 attacks for the previous 12-month period. There have previously been cases reported of dogs mauling other pets to death, especially when in groups.

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