It is one of the last things you would expect to see in the estuary near Wannanup but a local canine has survived an attack from a sea lion.
Four-year-old kelpie mastiff cross Rhodey was swimming in the estuary when a huge sea lion bit into his shoulder.
“It was about 5pm on Thursday and Rhodey was swimming in the water and I huge a heard splash,” Rhodey’s owner Dean Carter said.
“The next thing I knew the dog was up on the rocks, growling down at this massive sea lion.
“I ran over and grabbed his collar because I was afraid Rhodey would jump back in after it.”
Mr Carter said the sea lion would have weighed “a few hundred kilos” and said he had never seen one in the estuary before.
The sea lion’s big canine teeth went into Rhodey’s shoulder blades and his vet said they came close to hitting his spine.
“Rhodey will often swim and play with the dolphins but it’s scary to think there’s bigger things swimming in there,” he said.
Rhodey had internal and external stitches but Mr Carter said he is on the mend – but won’t be swimming any time soon.
