Help Cosmo Survive the Dog Attack

Cosmo and his long term lady-dog Astra were enjoying an early morning walk in the park over the easter weekend. Without any warning or owner in sight a bull terrier ran across the street and a soccer field, stopped in front of us and just attacked Cosmo as he moved between it and Astra.

The bull terrier locked on to Cosmo's foreleg at the elbow and began tearing, snapping the foreleg and trying to rip it off. It was like a nightmare scene as it tore a huge hole in his leg without letting go while I beat, stomped, kicked and screamed at it. It was only thanks to a nearby horse trainer running over and using his lead rope to clip on to the attacking dog , whipping with the other end as I knelt down and beat the nose and eyes until it let go of my dog enough to drag them apart. It was five minutes of absolute hell.

The owner eventually came walking over from the nearby estates and instead of apologising or waiting for me to get off the phone from emergency services just took his dog and walked away. I tried to chase with a now twisted and sprained foot but another dog walker called me back as Cosmo was bleeding to death from a wound the size of egg showing the bones of the elbow joint.

He was referred to an emergency vet for an amputation but we were informed on arrival that his leg would be saved and amputation was unnecessary. A week later the news was just getting worse and worse and the bills jumped from $3,000 to $7,000 and finally we were told the only option was to keep him under the same treatment, likely costing $15,000 or more because the initial damage was far worse than it had appeared. We transferred him to our local vet and after one look at the wound and some basic tests it was straight in for amputation.


I've borrowed from family and friends, sold off what I can and maxed Vetpay for almost everything to date but there's still money owing on vet bills and the extent of the damage is still causing complications meaning more surgery. I'm at my limit and he is so close to pulling through. I don't need the previous bills paid, just what's left.



Cosmo is like my first child, I snuck him home as a puppy hidden in my jacket as a surprise. Since then we have built a bar together, built a cafe together, had to sell them, even made and sold his own brand of healthy dog treats, moved between three cities and two states, found him a mate, had a litter of six healthy and well-loved puppies and dealt with the breakdown of a 10 year relationship. He has given me purpose, love, comfort and along the way stolen the hearts of everyone he meets and countless pieces of cheese from poorly guarded platters.

He has survived so much, a couple of minor scrapes with bigger dogs that had responsible owners nearby (like a 50kg Rottweiler or the 35kg pitbull), he even survived a confrontation with a tram in Melbourne! He's helped me survive so much too.

The idea he might have to be put down because some idiot didn't train his dog, didn't secure his dog, didn't do the right thing... that some of the vets didn't amputate as I asked early on and kept treating without really investigating the extent of the damage... I don't want to ask for help, I'm ok having the debt but to fall short like this is too much.

Help me get this guy back on his feet and give him at least another 5 years of Hawaiian shirts, stolen cheese and cuddles.