Geraldton woman bids farewell to 40-year-old pet pink and grey galah after savage dog attack

Forty years ago, Fay Prunster stumbled upon a fledgling pink and grey galah with no feathers, which had fallen from its nest. Living in Three Springs at the time, Mrs Prunster took the chick into her home and began to care for it, naming him Fred — he soon became the apple of her eye. “He was the best fella in the world, he really was,” Mrs Prunster said, tearfully. Fred’s life was brutally ended last Thursday morning, when two dogs entered Mrs Prunster’s yard and attacked Fred at her Sunset Beach property. “I heard the most dreadful noise, Fred was screaming, there was metal scraping. He carries on some times but the noise he was making was just awful,” she recalled. Mrs Prunster is 80, and has trouble walking but thankfully her grandson was staying next door and quickly came to the rescue when he heard the noise. “Two dogs had ripped the beak from my bird through his cage,” she said. Fred was taken to an emergency vet clinic, and euthanised. “It was well before his time. I knew he’d go eventually but I always thought I’d find him at the bottom of his cage, never like this,” Mrs Prunster said. In a post to Facebook, Mrs Prunster wrote: “There was a lot of noise like some one dragging metal and my poor bird was making the most distressing noise I have ever heard. “That cry will never leave me. My grandson is on the way to the emergency vet to have him put to sleep. I am 80 years old, disabled and can least afford the high fee.” The post has garnered more than 380 likes and 125 comments. “I’ve had strangers offer to pay the vet bill. Everyone has been so kind,” Mrs Prunster said. Mrs Prunster reported the incident to City of Greater Geraldton rangers, and is aware of the property at which the dogs are kept. Galahs have life expectancies of up to 60 years, and Mrs Prunster said Fred was perfectly healthy, with many more years to live. The City was contacted for comment.