A WODONGA family is calling for common sense to prevail after council rangers refused to help their dog, who had jumped a fence and been attacked by the neighbours’ dogs.
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The last time Lindsay and Tracey Walker's blue heeler Rusty heard thunder, just two weeks earlier, he'd gotten spooked and hopped the fence.
When Mrs Walker heard thunder clap again just over a week ago she was quick to stop Rusty from getting out again – but not quick enough.
At 25 weeks pregnant, there was little she could do to separate Rusty and the neighbours’ two Staffordshire terriers.
Mr Walker, a truck driver, was stuck 500 kilometres away at work.
After attempting to contact the RSPCA to no avail, he then called the Wodonga Police, who in turn contacted the council ranger.
The ranger then informed the police and Mr Walker that there was nothing they could do, since the incident was happening on private property.
It wasn't until more than an hour after Rusty jumped the fence that he was retrieved.
He was euthanised shortly afterwards, having suffered "likely brain bleeding and contusions, cervical spinal damage, blood loss, hyperthermia and with a high chance of multiple organ failure,” according to a veterinarians report.
Mr Walker said the Wodonga Council owed their pet a duty of care, particularly after being contacted by police to assist.
“Even if he couldn't have been saved, the amount of suffering he went through could have been minimised,” he said.
“If he'd suffered for five minutes less – anything would have been better than nothing.
“When all other options have been exhausted, what do you do?
“There has to be something there for exceptional circumstances.
“If the police are willing to send someone around to help out, we restrain the dogs until we get ours out, and leave a note explaining we've been.”
Worse still, they have since been slugged with a fine for owning an unregistered dog – despite Rusty being re-registered earlier this month.
When contacted, Wodonga Council expressed sympathy for the family but re-iterated the ranger would have been unable to help.
“The council is sorry a family has lost a much-loved pet,” a spokesperson said.
“Incidents on private property are not covered under the Victorian Domestic Animals Act and are a civil issue.
“The owners did not contact rangers at the time...but have since spoken to a council officer.”
