Perth woman Nikita Piil, 31, has spent weeks fighting for her life after she was “caught in a crossfire” of her two pet rottweilers Bronx and Harlem, and was viciously mauled at home following “an incident within the neighbourhood”.
Bronx was shot in a life-saving move by police, and later euthanised, while Harlem was sent to the pound where he now awaits the life-or-death decision that Nikita will be forced to make in three days.
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Nikita suffered bite wounds and major blood loss, and nearly lost her arm in the September 16 attack in the southern Perth suburb of Success.
She was taken to Royal Perth Hospital where she fought for her life several times as serious complications from canine bacterial infections took hold.
Her sister Natasha Piil wrote in a GoFundMe fundraising effort for her surgeries and upcoming rehabilitation that the incident required 13 hours of emergency surgeries, with “countless more on the horizon”.
She described the incident as having “changed Nikita’s life forever”.
During the attack, police first deployed a Taser, and then fired a gun at Bronx when it became clear Nikita’s life was in danger.
Bronx was transported to a nearby vet which then “made the decision to euthanise the animal due to the extent of its injuries,” according to the City of Cockburn.
Harlem was transported to the City’s Animal Management Facility, with an ongoing investigation eventually declaring him dangerous.
Under state requirements for dangerous dogs, Nikita will need to comply with a number of demands including erecting warning signs, keeping him secured in a child-proof enclosure, and keeping him on-leash and muzzled at all times outside that area.
Nikita has until Saturday to comply, or Harlem will be euthanised.
“The seized dog, which has now been declared dangerous, is still housed in our animal management facility,” City of Cockburn head of community safety and ranger services Michael Emery told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Piil, or her delegate, has until Saturday, October 21 to comply with the state’s keeping of dangerous dog requirements.
“If Piil cannot comply, the city will have no option but to euthanise the dog, following any appeal period.”
The decision is likely to be a difficult one for Nikita who was a smitten dog owner before the attack.
“She loved and adored her dogs, and her friends and family have witnessed how much they loved her too,” Natasha wrote in the GoFundMe.
A dog fight is brewing at Spring Street, with state MPs fuming over the decision to ban their parliamentary mascot.
