Dog may never bark again after 'wild panther' attack

A family's pet dog may never bark again after it was viciously attacked — by what experts fear was a wild panther. Vets had to battle to save four-year-old Dusk after he was horrifically mauled outside his home in the Welsh countryside. The dog miraculously survived despite severe neck injuries, but it is feared he will not "speak" again.

Experts say the dog's injuries are typical of a strike by a panther. Police are investigating the attack, which happened close to the scene of other mysterious big cat sightings. Owner Chris O'Mahoney, 35, said: "I knew straight away that it was a big cat attack. It's a trait of theirs to attack the neck and face, and this one ripped Dusk's windpipe out."

Dusk, an Alaskan malamute, was attacked late at night on September 7 in Chris' back garden in Brecon, Powys, Wales. The businessman said: "There is a big cat in the area — I've seen it myself twice and local farmers have had their sheep attacked. The first time it pounced on to a wall like it was on springs which was amazing because it is quite a large animal.

"The second time it walked straight past my van, it was extremely brazen." Dusk underwent a life-saving operation on his bite wound at the Victoria Veterinary Practice in Merthyr Tydfil. A spokesman said after the operation: "Dusk was definitely attacked by something very big and powerful."