Loose dogs on the prowl in Athy

AN ATHY woman has said she is “petrified” to leave her home after a group of allegedly starved and vicious dogs have been repeatedly seen running loose on her housing estate, resulting in the deaths of several cats, including her own, and leaving residents living in fear.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, told the Kildare Nationalist that her eight-month-old kitten was attacked by three lurchers in December.

“The kitten managed to get out and was attacked. When I found her, she was gasping for air,” she said.

The animal was rushed to a vet but had suffered severe spinal cord damage and had to be put down.

“It was absolutely traumatic, especially for my 10-year-old daughter,” the woman said.

During the incident, the woman was bitten by the kitten, which was in pain and shock. She required two weeks of antibiotics for the wound. 

The veterinary bill for the kitten came to more than €300.

She said she contacted gardaí following the attack but felt little action was taken.

“I was told this happens so often. Nothing was done,” she said.

The woman also contacted the local dog warden but said that they were unable to address the problem due to the owner’s unwillingness to cooperate.

According to the woman, the incident involving her kitten was not isolated. 

She claims that in a two-week period during December, six cats from the estate were killed by the same dogs, and that similar instances of loose, starving dogs have been seen in the estate for the past five or six years.

She said the fear has spread throughout the estate, with some children no longer playing outside.

“My daughter stopped me one day when I was going out and said, ‘No mammy, the dogs,’” she recalled.

“Everyone is frustrated, the whole housing estate.” 

The woman said the experience has had a serious impact on her health. She has epilepsy and said the stress and lack of sleep since the incident have triggered seizures, resulting in visits to her neurologist.

“It’s put the fear of God in me. I was never afraid of dogs before, but now I’m petrified,” she said.

She said she is now fearful even of dogs being walked off their leads elsewhere in the town.

To the dog owners of Athy, she said: “I just ask people to be respectful of those who are in fear.” 

The woman said she hopes the situation will be resolved so residents can feel safe again.

Local Athy councillor, Aoife Breslin, said loose dogs were an “ongoing issue” and that she has spoken to Kildare County Council’s environment section, who agreed to arrange a site visit with the dog warden to remove the dogs.