Warning: this article contains graphic content that may upset some readers.
A vicious attack by two dogs left one Taupo woman's pet with its left eye "hanging out of the socket," and risking partial blindness.
Hope Appleton was walking her 6-year-old Pekingese/Griffon cross, Eevie for their regular morning walk at the Kimberly Reserve on Taharepa road when the attack occurred.
Appleton said Eevie is well behaved, doesn't usually approach other dogs and was right by her side when she was mauled by two Blue Heeler's just after 6am on May 10.
"All I can really hear is the sound that she was making [when she was attacked], I have never heard anything make a sound like that...she was in so much pain and I don't know how I am going to get that sound out of my head." Appleton said.
She claimed the male owner of the two dogs initially asked Appleton if she was ok but then after realising the extent of the injuries, left the scene.
Appleton claimed she had not yet realised the extent of the injuries her dog had as it was dark and that it wasn't until she asked a civilian nearby to shine her light on her pet that she noticed that Eevie's eye had '"come out of the socket."
She said she "cried for three hours" and was panicked when she waited for her dog to undergo medical treatment.
Eevie was operated on by a vet in Taupo who was able to get the eyeball back into its socket and have "stitched it in for a week or two" until they can see if the eye was able to stay in place.
Appleton said if all goes well, Eevie's eye will not need to be removed and she will not be partially blind.
Appleton said while she doesn't want anything to happen to the man's dogs, she believes he should take better care of them and ensure they are on a lead or wear a muzzle when they are being walked.
"It's just not fair what happened to me and my dog and I don't think it should happen to anyone else, especially from the same dog."
Appleton said while she has seen a lot of other dog attack stories posted on the community noticeboard which she posted her own experience on, she never expected her dog to be mauled.
She said the idea of walking Eevie again makes her "really anxious" and she is unsure what the psychological effects will be on her pet.
Appleton claimed she is working with the council to find the owner of the dogs and that she has a few leads on who the man might be.
