A local family is urging residents of Drumkeen to be cautious when walking their pets after an attack by an off-lead dog.
The alleged attack was reported last night, where the dog set upon a Golden Retriever which was being walked by two teenage boys.
The Retriever suffered bite marks on the inside of its ear and had to receive vet treatment, while the boys were left shaken by the ordeal.
The Retriever’s owners have reached out to Donegal Daily to warn others to be on alert for the dog which has left them fearful of walking in their home area. The breed of the dog which attacked is said to be on the restricted breed list.
The owner said: “Thankfully our dog is ok, the dog got at his head and ripped and punctured inside his ear before he could fight him off and the owner of the dog got it back under control.
“But a vet bill for us this morning and a shaken couple of teenagers and Golden, and steroids and antibiotics for our dog now.”
“Folks walking around here need to be aware to be wary of the animal should they encounter it, as plenty of people walk their dogs out the lanes here,” the retriever’s owner said.
“A smaller dog or a child wouldn’t stand a chance.”
The family has been in contact with gardaí, they said, while a garda spokesperson told Donegal Daily today they have no official reports of the attack.
The Retreiver’s owner said they wanted to highlight the incident following a separate attack in Muff in June, where a young male jogger had to receive hospital treatment after being bitten on the leg by a Rottweiler.
Dogs on the restricted breed list in Ireland must be kept on short leashes, muzzled in public places, walked by a person over the age of 16, and they must wear collars with the name and address of their owner, at all times.