Family shaken up after two German Shepherds attacked their dogs

Warning: The video of the attack is graphic.

A family in Niagara-on-the-Lake is shaken up over an attack on their family dogs this week by two German Shepherds. They’re worried about who could be next with dangerous dogs in the neighbourhood.

The family says a German Shepherd from across the street tried to bite one of them in the past and then this week, on Tuesday, that dog and another were running loose and went after their dogs.

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Their ten-year-old-Border Terrier mix named Gunner is at home recovering from his injuries after being attacked this week by two much larger dogs. The family’s security video shows what happened on Tuesday as a family dog ran into one of the German Shepherds that were loose on their property. Then, the other Shepherd showed up and Gunner arrived. The Shepherd held on to Gunner’s throat for more than a minute, at one point both Shepherds were attacking him. Then he was dragged away into a neighbouring vineyard when one of the homeowners saw what was happening.

Gunner’s owner Colleen Petrunick says, “they dragged him into the grapes, they were gonna to kill him.” Gunner’s owner says the attack ended when the owner of the German Shepherds arrived from across the street. She says the neighbours apologized and paid the vet bill which was more than $1,000. But, the family is still worried, especially about young children.

Kevin Strooband of the Lincoln County Humane Society says, “as a result of our investigation we deemed the two attacking dogs dangerous under the Niagara-on-the-Lake bylaw and we laid three charges against the owner of those dogs.”

The owner has been fined $350 and ordered to muzzle the dogs. If it happens again penalties could be more severe, “it could potentially be taking the dogs away or the court could issue fines in that way.”

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CHCH News spoke to the owners of the German Shepherds on Friday. They wouldn’t go on camera and the dogs weren’t around but they were concerned that publicity around the dog attack could damage their local business.

Gunner’s owners are living in fear, “I’m terrified. I’m scared to go out now.” They also tell CHCH News that the neighbours told them they’re going to re-train the German Shepherds so this doesn’t happen again. Gunner’s owners aren’t certain that re-training is going to solve the problem.