A DOG has been stabbed up to a dozen times while walking with its owner in a bizarre incident in Wodonga.
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Police are trying to work out what led to the Staffie-cross sustaining six to 12 small stab wounds — possibly from a knife — after breaking away from its owner in Hamilton Smith Drive on Sunday.
The man had been walking near the racecourse about 4.30pm when the female dog broke free.
It ran towards another woman walking a dog and was stabbed, and the woman drove away in a small white hatchback.
Police are trying to track down the woman to find out exactly what had occurred and why the animal was stabbed.
“There were quite a few witnesses in and around the area and someone may have a better description of the car,” Constable Russ Iliff said.
A weapon was not recovered and while the dog was injured, it was still able to walk.
Veterinarian and Albury RSPCA branch president Dr Arthur Frauenfelder said while he would have to see what the circumstances were, it would be concerning if the dog was attacked without reason.
“I’m appalled at any behaviour which inflicts pain on a dog, especially a knifing,” he said.
“However sometimes extreme things have to be done to separate a dog attacking a person or another dog.
“Usually most people use whatever they have; if they’ve got a stick, they use a stick, or they might punch or kick an attacking dog.
“The main thing to bear in mind is that we don’t know the exact circumstances of the knifing.”
Dr Frauenfelder said he would not condone it if it was an unwarranted attack.
He said Staffies were “extremely loveable animals” but said they had originally been bred from hunting stock.
“When they’re provoked or perceive they are being provoked, or challenged by another animal, or cornered, they can become fairly vicious,” he said.
“But they also have a wonderful nature towards humans.
“There are aspects of attacking behaviour that can be quite extreme and it can take a lot of force and pain for the dog to be distracted.
“But the dog can also react by attacking the person out of sheer mindlessness and pain, so that can actually aggravate the situation.”