Dog Owner Recounts Attack, Urges Responsibility After $3,000 Vet Bill
A Sydney couple is seeking accountability after their cavoodle was injured in a park attack, leaving them with a substantial veterinary expense.
Marcio Sanches and his wife Bianca were at Mosman's Reid Park in Sydney with their two dogs on September 12 when a brown kelpie allegedly attacked their five-year-old cavoodle, Luna.
The Sancheses claim the kelpie's owner left the scene immediately after the incident without exchanging details or checking on Luna's condition. Fearing Luna had lost sight in her injured right eye, they rushed her to an emergency veterinary hospital, where she underwent surgery.
Luna is now recovering at home, but the couple has been left with a $3,000 veterinary bill. This unexpected expense comes at a difficult time for the family, as Mr. Sanches is currently unemployed and they are facing cost-of-living pressures.
"We're just grateful that Luna suffered no damage to her vision, and that the worst is behind us," Mr. Sanches told the Daily Mail. "It was very stressful and upsetting at the time. We were freaking out and by the time we checked on Luna, the owner of the other dog was gone."
The couple has reported the incident to Mosman Council. "People need to show accountability and responsibility for their dogs' actions," Mr. Sanches stated. "If a person was on the ground injured, would you not offer to help? Be a decent person and do better."
Mosman Council has confirmed it is investigating the incident. A spokesperson stated that the investigation will involve gathering information from the parties involved, appealing for witnesses, and checking for available CCTV footage. Depending on the evidence, enforcement actions could include penalty notices for failing to maintain effective control of a dog or for the attack itself. The council may also consider declaring the dog menacing or dangerous, which would impose strict management requirements.
In the 2025-26 reporting period, Mosman Council received 15 dog attack reports, resulting in three penalty notices issued under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998.
The Sancheses have expressed no regret over the cost of Luna's treatment, describing her as family. They started a fundraiser to help cover the expenses, noting their current financial hardship. "Luna is the most loving little soul. We just want to see her recover from this horrible attack, heal properly and get back to being the happy, beautiful girl we know and love," Mr. Sanches wrote on the fundraising page.