A dog owner is speaking out after she says her small Havenese was fatally attacked by two larger unleashed dogs at Island View Beach in Central Saanich on Monday.
Dianne Donohue was walking her two small dogs at the beach near the water before 3:45 p.m. when she said she saw two larger dogs approaching her.
“I saw them running towards my dog and then the next thing I know they just grabbed her,” Donohue told CHEK News Wednesday.
“It was horrific, I literally was fighting off two dogs in the water. I had to get in the water, [I was] ripping at the dogs, and they were just ripping at my small dog.”
She said even more alarming was that nobody nearby, including the dogs’ owner, came to help.
Taking the 10-pound, two-year-old Havenese, Daisy, into her arms, Donohue rushed back to her car with her other dog, who was not injured.
READ MORE: Federal agency continues crackdown on unleashed dogs at Greater Victoria beaches
On her way to her vehicle, she said a woman who may have been the owner approached her and asked if the dog was OK. She then looked at the dog and remarked there was no blood, so she must be fine, Donohue said.
But after she took Daisy to a veterinary clinic, she said her beloved dog died about eight hours later.
“My relationship with her, they love unconditionally. I’ve never experienced that like I did with Daisy,” said Donohue, adding that Daisy’s father was a grand champion show dog. “The best dog I’ve ever owned. A huge, huge loss for me.”
Donohue has reported the attack to CRD Animal Control, which confirmed to CHEK News that it was investigating and that it was a top priority.
The CRD provided a statement saying it is now requesting anyone who may have witnessed the attack to call them at 250-474-3351.
Donohue said she’d like to find the owners of the two unleashed dogs, which she described as dogs with shepherd colouring that may have been mixed breeds.
She also wants other dog owners to stay vigilant when visiting Island View Beach so the same thing doesn’t happen to them.
According to CRD Animal Control, dogs must be leashed in the campground area of the park and kept under control at all times.
Jeff Lawrence
