Dog attacked at off-leash pet park in Raleigh

Holly Mohajer said she was at the park with her dogs when she heard Lokey screaming behind her, turned around and saw three dogs on top of him.

She and others tried to pull them apart.

"We were pulling on the dogs' tails and legs, taking a dog off, taking another dog off," she said. "Then, of course, one would get back on. It was just hard to control three attacking dogs."

"Finally two of them were pushed to the side and kept down, and there was one that had just latched hold of the back of Lokey's neck and would not let go," Mohajer added. "You know, you hear about that and hopefully you never have to witness it. It was horrible."

Two second-year veterinary students, who were at the park at the time, wrapped Lokey in a blanket and drove him to the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he spent two days before being released Monday evening.

A Raleigh police spokesman said in a statement Sunday that no charges have been filed and that "no other action has been taken at this point in the investigation."

City Councilwoman Mary-Ann Baldwin, who heads the council's Law and Public Safety Committee, said Monday that she's waiting for a report from animal control and the city's Parks and Recreation Department before making any determination on whether to look at changing the city's policies regarding dog parks.

Oakwood Dog Park is one of three in Raleigh in which pets of all sizes and breeds can run without a leash once inside a gated area.

According to the city of Raleigh's website, each park, however, is "managed by volunteers and depend on responsible dog ownership and etiquette."

Those at Oakwood Dog Park Monday said it's up to each person to be responsible and do what's right.

"You just have to really watch your dog when you take them to that park," said dog owner Steve Mayberry. "You just can't go ahead and start looking at your phone or whatever. You do have to pay attention."