[nagdu] Guide dog attacked; Owner needs help with needed surgery

[Ginger Kutsch]

Guide dog attacked; Owner needs help with needed surgery

http://www.abc4.com/content/news/top_stories/story/Service-dog-attacked-Owne
r-needs-help-with-needed/xDKYZ4kBo06aa7qHw9_WuA.cspx

Published: 8/31 10:55 pm 

Reported by: Kylie Conway 

Buffy, a service dog, sits with her owner in hopes raising funds for hip
surgery SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A service dog needs help after she was
viciously attacked by two pit bulls. Buffy's owner is nearly blind and is
now at his wits-end trying to find a way to pay for a necessary surgery to
fix her broken hip.

 

The attack happened last Tuesday on South Main and 1300 S where Zoran
Maunaga attends school at the Horizonte Instruction and Training Center. 

 

"Three other people were bit trying to get the dogs apart. The dogs were
loose and off the leash when they attacked," said Maunaga's friend Carolyn
Howe.

 

Maunaga came to America thirteen years ago as a Bosnian refugee. He has a
prosthetic left eye and relies on his service dog Buffy to get around.

 

"That always amazes me. You know, if he's at my house he knows the layout
it's not a problem. But, when it's some place different he doesn't know
where he's going," said Howe.

 

A police report shows that the two pit bulls have attacked before.

 

"But, it sounds to me that they should have been confiscated. Well, if they
killed another dog last year," said Howe.

 

Maunaga is living on disability and can't afford to pay the $970 for Buffy's
emergency care plus an additional $2,500 for the surgery to fix her hip. The
veterinarian told Maunaga if Buffy doesn't get the surgery soon it will
leave her disabled.

 

Maunaga had to turn down an expense-paid trip back home to see friends and
family because of the attack.

 

"His friend was taking him back to his country to see his mother to see his
whole family and when this happened they told him that she couldn't go,"
said Howe.

 

It's been four years since Maunaga saw his mother. Now it will be longer as
he fights to save his best friend. 

 

The pit bulls were found and euthanized.

 

If you'd like to help contact Advanced Veterinary Care during normal
business hours and explain how you'd like to help Buffy.

 

Advanced Veterinary Care

1021 East 3300 South

Salt Lake City, UT 84106

801-942-3951