The Star: July 11, 2019

The Star Thursday July 11 2019
20
NEWS
news online at www.star.kiwi
Overwhelming kindness after brutal attack
• By Georgia O’Connor-
Harding
NICHOLA Crawford cannot
fathom the kindness that has
been shown to her following
the brutal attack of her german
shepherd Jerry.
She was walking her son’s
dog along Wharenui Rd, Upper
Riccarton, recently when three
unrestrained dogs appeared
from an unfenced property and
attacked him.
“I was a mess, I don’t
remember most of it . . . I was
trying to hold Jerry but he
was on his choker chain, so
I was trying to sort of swing
him around but it was all just
so quick . . . he was bleeding
everywhere,” Ms Crawford said.
The owner of the three dogs,
along with members of the
public, helped throughout the
attack, but Ms Crawford has not
heard from the owner since.
The attack left Jerry with
puncture wounds along his
abdomen, numerous bites and a
wound on his neck.
He was taken to the vet and
sedated so his wounds could be
drained, cleaned and stitched
up – he was also prescribed
antibiotics and painkillers.
Ms Crawford said she doesn’t
blame the dogs or their owner,
but she would like a fence
installed on the property and
has asked the city council’s dog
control team to follow up.
“I said to dog control, I don’t
want to take money off them
because it wouldn’t be right.
I have already got the money
raised,” she said.
Within four days of setting up
a Givealittle page to raise money
to cover Jerry’s vet bill, $1027
was donated by 61 people.
Ms Crawford said most of
the money came on the day
she set up the page and she was
overwhelmed by the support.
The vet bill was $950, but Ms
Crawford also had additional
costs to cover such as having
RECOVERY: Nichola Crawford has been
overwhelmed by the support she has received after
german shepherd Jerry was attacked by three dogs
on Wharenui Rd. PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER ​
Jerry’s stitches cleaned.
Axel Jones, who made a
donation, said he didn’t know
Ms Crawford but it was such an
unfortunate story.
“As a dog owner, you feel that’s
like a friend being attacked and
no doubt a very scary experience
with a big bill to go with it.”
Since the attack, Ms Crawford,
– who already has anxiety –
said she has been having panic
attacks. “That was my worst
thought ever happening and
now it has happened,” she said.
Ms Crawford said she is now
too afraid to take Jerry out, but
is hoping to make “baby steps”
to be able to take him walking
regularly again soon.
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