PORT HARDY - Two dogs running loose savaged a dog tethered outside the hospital, says a senior who witnessed the Sept. 22 attack on her pet.

“I tied Buffy, who is a small dog, to the bench outside Eagle Ridge Manor just before dinner,” said June Lyons, a Port Hardy senior who has lived here more than 30 years. “I was visiting a friend for about 15 minutes.

“As I was getting ready to leave, two dogs jumped on Buffy and attacked him viciously ... they were tied together but they were not on a leash, nobody was controlling them,” Lyons continued. “They bit Buffy all over, on the back and under the tummy. He required six or seven drain tubes.”

Buffy was taken to North Island Veterinary Hospital immediately, says Lyons, where staff cleaned his wounds that night. Then, on Sept. 23, Buffy was treated by clinic staff for roughly seven more hours.

“He is recovering, but still has to go back for his final treatment tomorrow,” said Lyons Oct. 3.

“What is most upsetting to me is that the owner of the two dogs knows what happened but he has never approached to enquire about the dog,” said Lyons.

The incident has changed the way Lyons handles her dog. “I used to tie him outside the post office and Overwaitea, but that was a mistake that I won’t do again,” said Lyons. “People should keep their dogs on leashes, but never tie your dog because this could happen to you.”

Lyons called the police that day and says they told her to call the animal control officer through the District of Port Hardy. She did that, but had not heard back by Oct. 3.

The first bill from the vet was close to $700, but a sympathetic citizen has anonymously covered $300 of that, says Lyons. Although she did not say so, staff at Port Hardy hospital are collecting cash and hope to cover the difference.

“This is very upsetting and disturbing, I did not do this to get money,” she said. “I am a very private person and the kindness that has been flowing in is amazing. I feel humbled.”

“People have given me encouragement and acknowledged the fact that I’ve had to suffer through this.”

Generally speaking, dogs must have licenses and be on a leash anywhere inside the District of Port Hardy, municipal staff say. The only places where leashes are not required is at Tsulquate Park, and on the Duval Forestry Road at the end of Trustee Road.

Dog owners that breach the leash law can be fined $100 for a first offense and have their dogs picked up at their expense by the animal control officer.