LOCALS have been warned to lock up their dogs, after two broke into the Tamworth Marsupial Park and mauled a kangaroo that later had to be put down because of its injuries.
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On Tuesday morning, two “pig dogs” attacked one of the park’s original hand-raised kangaroos, ripping one of its arms off and breaking the other.
Friends of the Tamworth Marsupial Park president John McDarmont said the dogs got in through a hole in the park’s outer fence, then dug under the kangaroo enclosure fence and started harassing the marsupials.
“They caught one, chewed its front arm off and broke the other one, so we had to get the vet up to put it down,” Mr McDarmont said.
“It was one of our original hand-raised kangaroos, so a lot of people are going to be upset about it.”
Mr McDarmont said the dogs were chased away after the attack, and described them as a big white bull Arab with brown markings and smaller brown staffy – both with collars.
It’s not the first time the pair has entered the park. About four weeks ago, the dogs chased a wallaby into the park through a gate someone had unwired.
“Last time they did the same thing around the kangaroo enclosure, but they couldn’t work out how to get in that time – this time they did,” Mr McDarmont said.
“We’ve walked the [outer] fence all the way around, there’s no other hole.
“We spent all morning bring up rocks to put up against the wire and driving post into the ground to mend the hole.
“We think the hole was made by a wild kangaroo or wallaby.
“They make the holes to try and get in here.”
It’s the first time one of the park’s animals has been attacked.
Mr McDarmont is concerned now the dogs know their way around and have had a taste of blood, they’ll force their way back in.
“The problem is, once they’ve been here, they’ll come back and try and find their way in somewhere,” he said.
“Because it’s the same dogs, it’s a worry. Hopefully someone will recognise the description, know the owner and tell them to put a lid on it.”
They caught one [kangaroo], chewed its front arm off and broke the other one, so we had to get the vet up to put it down.
- Friends of the Tamworth Marsupial Park president, John McDarmont