A Leamington woman is imploring dog owners to make sure their pets are secured properly in public after a vicious dog attack earlier this month in Leamington.
The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after a dog mangled a small Maltese Shitzu on the boardwalk at the Leamington Marina on November 10.
Coco, beloved pet of Stanya DaCosta, was euthanized soon after by veterinarians at the Leamington Animal Hospital, but DaCosta told BlackburnNews.com her family is still traumatized.
DaCosta said it happened just as she passed another woman who was there with a young boy and a black dog.
"He started getting excited," she said of the other dog. "Just as we were about to pass them, I noticed that the dog, kind of, stood up on its hind legs, and he wiggled right out of [his harness]."
The woman started yelling out, "Oh, no," as the dog darted toward Coco.
"It was the scariest moment of my life," said DaCosta of the moment the dog latched onto the neck of her pet and refused to let go.
Once she was able to pull Coco free, DaCosta said she saw something that will haunt her.
"My dog only had half a face," she said. "No bottom jaw. His tongue was dangling. This is a sight that I'm going to have to live with for the rest of my life."
However, the dog was not finished. Now, it attacked DaCosta biting her on the hands.
"The dog is jumping out and jabbing his teeth into my hands. I've got, like, these little stab marks," said DaCosta.
Since November 10, DaCosta admitted her family has suffered. Her children are depressed, and she is still very emotional.
"Yesterday was the first day I felt like I could take a deep breath," she explained. "We can't have anything that belonged to him in sight. It's just been a doozy."
The Municipality of Leamington does have a dog control bylaw that expressly forbids dogs to go unleashed in public. The dog registry also prohibits Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, American Pitbulls, and any dog with similar physical characteristics.
A spokesperson with the municipality said the bylaw is enforced.
DaCosta is not sure what breed the dog that attacked her and Coco was, but said a DNA test has been asked of the owner.
Meanwhile, the OPP continue to investigate the attack.