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The owner of an alpaca farm in Walshaw has shared her heartbreak and frustration after her herd was viciously attacked by a dog.
Deborah Fretti, 53, from Bury, owns the Meadowcroft Farm Alpacas, located off Lowercroft Road, with her business partner and neighbour Deborah Lyall, 62.
The duo set up the alpaca farm two years ago, offering the public the chance to get hands on through experiences, parties and feeding opportunities with an all-male herd.
The family-run farm is now dealing with the aftermath after the herd was attacked by an off-lead dog on Monday (October 13), leaving two of the animals seriously injured and one fighting for his life.
Alpaca Norman ‘lost his nose’ in the eight-minute dog attack while trying to protect the youngest member of the herd, nine-month-old Chewbacca.
Two others – Dave and Chico – tried to help Norman fight back, but also sustained serious injuries to their jaw and ears in the process.
It only ended after a neighbour saw what was happening and managed to disarm the dog.
Ms Fretti is pleading with dog owners to think twice about letting their pets “roam free” and wants to use the traumatic incident to raise awareness around responsible ownership.
Deborah Fretti and Chico(Image: supplied)
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Speaking to the Bury Times, she said: “Education is vital. Everyone thinks that their dog would never attack and that they have control of their dogs – until they don’t.
“It is a legal requirement for dogs to be kept on a lead around livestock, but every day, we see them roaming free near the farm.
“The majority of people are amazing and will comply but we get a lot who are rude, aggressive and entitled when we explain why their dogs need to be on a lead.
“Dogs will go for the jugular and can do massive amounts of damage in a short space of time.
“If they attack our animals or come on our land, we have the right to shoot dogs and we will do it.
“If you want it to run free, there are many other places to go without livestock. People need to be aware of the consequences for everyone involved.”
The farm is home to ten male alpacas and one ‘baby’. Idris came to live at Meadowcroft from a farm in Rochdale, where he sadly saw a fellow alpaca killed by a dog in a similar attack last year.
Idris moved to the Walshaw farm after witnesses a fatal dog attack in Rochdale(Image: supplied)
Ms Fretti is now worried about the impact this may have on him in particular.
She added: “Idris came to us after being traumatised by a dog attack where he lost his friend and has now had to see it happen again here.
“The whole herd is now on alert whenever they see a dog nearby. It’s heartbreaking.”
Norman suffered severe facial injuries and is now undergoing ‘expensive’ ongoing veterinary care, alongside the other two boys who suffered ‘torn jaw muscles’ and ‘ripped ears’.
Ms Fretti shared her upset and said that they didn’t think Norman was ‘going to make it’.
She continued: “I’m worried about the long-term impact and worry that he won’t ever be the same again.
“The stress of it all might still kill him, we don’t know yet.”
Norman suffered horrific injuries in the dog attack(Image: supplied)
The attack has also had an impact on the business, with the affected animals unable to partake in events and walks with the public for the foreseeable future.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are working with Ms Fretti and the dog owner, who Deborah says ‘took full responsibility’ and has ‘offered to pay all the vet’s bills.’
Ms Fretti shared pictures of the aftermath on the farm’s Facebook page and said they have received a ‘wealth of support’, with people offering money and condolences.
She added: “It’s not just about the cost, it’s devastating for everyone and dog owners need to educate themselves properly. It’s us who are having to pick the pieces up now.
“I know it is devastating for the owner, too, and we’re going to put more signs up and hope people pay attention.”
