Oamaru woman and her golden retriever mutilated by dogs in Trotters Gorge

Oamaru’s wife, Fiona Hewett, was left bloodied, bruised and traumatized after she and her golden retriever Ivy were recently attacked by two dogs at Trotters Gorge.

Fiona Hewett, her daughter Katrina and Ivy were walking near the camp last month when she was attacked from behind, received bite marks on her hand and leg and bruises.

Ivy had puncture wounds to her legs, back, and behind her ears.

The dogs, which Hewett believed to be pig dogs, were not carrying cables and ignored calls from their owner, who later removed them from the scene.

The incident left her shocked and devastated.

“Emotional scars will take much longer to heal than physical ones.

“My daughter was traumatized while standing and thought these dogs were going to kill her beloved family pet and mother.”

Hewett said the owner expressed remorse at the time and told him they would likely have to euthanize the dogs.

“I said ‘if my dog ​​had done what his dog had done to mine, he would be euthanized in an hour, because that’s what responsible dog owners do.’

Growing up in nearby Palmerston, Hewett had fond memories of Trotters Gorge, but she would not return.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before; if it had been a smaller dog or a child, they wouldn’t have had a chance.”

She had filed complaints with the Department of Conservation (DoC), which owned the land, and the Waitaki District Council, but had yet to receive a response.

The DoC website indicated that Trotters Gorge had walking trails and hunting areas.

Hewett wanted the department to review its policies and procedures.

“You can’t have both.

“You can’t have hunters and dogs, and a family picnic area, it just doesn’t work like that.”

The website also stated that dogs must be kept on a leash in the picnic area, but Hewett said there were no clear signs indicating this.

“I looked for signs of a leash for my dog, because I always do that, and there aren’t any, and I looked for a video of Trotters Gorge and here’s a hiker who has three dogs off the leash.”

DoC Coast Otago Acting Operations Manager Craig Wilson confirmed that the department had been contacted about the incident.

“We believe we have identified the permit holder whose dogs were involved and we are currently following up on the incident,” Wilson said.

He said dogs were allowed in the campground and on the walking track, but had to be on a leash at all times.

There was an exception for hunters; Hunting dogs might not have tracks on the reserve if the owner had a permit.

“The permits have strict conditions, one of which requires hunting dogs to be under effective control at all times,” Wilson said.

Waitaki District Council Regulatory Services Manager Andrew Bardsley said it was an ongoing investigation and declined to comment further.