A young woman has revealed her heartbreak after her beloved dog was viciously attacked and had to be put down.
India Fergusson was walking her nine-year-old Wheaten terrier Minty in an off-lead section of Centennial Park in Sydneys eastern suburbs in September.
Ms Fergusson told Yahoo News she was with her mum walking Minty and their dachshund Tilly when a cattle dog suddenly jumped out of a car and ran towards them.
(Tilly) gets frequently attacked, so were constantly on alert for dogs coming up to her.
But that day this cattle dog just jumped out of its car, and though it seemed pretty calm to begin with, quickly, about two seconds later, beelined for Minty — who kind of looked like a sheep.
Ms Fergusson said the cattle dog targeted Mintys back legs and then took her out from underneath.
She revealed the horrifying attack continued.
Then when Minty was trying to scramble away, it bit the top of her neck, and in doing so, [momentarily] paralysed her.
Ms Fergusson (pictured) was with her mum and walking Minty and their dachshund Tilly when a cattle dog suddenly jumped out of a car and ran towards them
Ms Fergusson and her family tearfully farewelled their beloved Minty, a Wheaten terrier on Tuesday (stock image)
Ms Fergusson said after the brutal attack, the owner walked off and was calling after the cattle dog.
Ms Fergusson and her mum took Minty home and initially, she did not appear to be badly injured.
Then overnight, and from then on, she deteriorated rapidly. She couldnt walk, she dug herself holes in the backyard and she took herself off, Ms Fergusson said.
Before the attack, Ms Fergusson said Minty was a very family-oriented dog, but after the savage encounter kept to herself.
Although Minty was on strong pain medication, the vet tragically revealed she would never recover from the trauma of the attack and had no quality of life as she was unable to walk.
The most humane option to ease Mintys suffering was to euthanise her.
The family tearfully farewelled Minty on Tuesday.
I have never experienced a broken heart like this before, Ms Fergusson said.
Devastated at the loss of her beloved Minty, Ms Fergusson wants to bring awareness to the dangers of off-leash dogs who are untrained, though she does not hold the cattle dog responsible.
Im not blaming the dog, Im blaming the owner. Its never the dogs fault. It should have been trained properly, or kept on a lead.
Centennial Park is one of the most dog-friendly parks in Sydney, with over 30 per cent of the Parklands’ open space designated off-leash.
The Centennial Parklands website states that a person must not bring any animal (being an animal that is not prohibited from being on Trust lands) unless it is under the effective control of a competent person by means of an adequate chain, cord, leash or cage.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Greater Sydney Parklands for comment.
Centennial Park is one of the most dog-friendly parks in Sydney, with over 30 per cent of the Parklands’ open space designated off-leash (stock image)