"My Dog, Let Go"…Dog Owner Punches Kangaroo That Choked His Pet Dog's Neck

Safe Rescue of Pet Dog After Wrestling with Kangaroo
Martial Arts Enthusiast and Former Police Officer

The story of a former police officer who fought barehanded against a kangaroo that kidnapped and strangled his pet dog has become a hot topic.

A kangaroo strangling the neck of Moloney's pet dog, Hatch, underwater.
[Photo by Facebook capture]

This story came to light when Mick Molloy, the owner of the dog and a former police officer, shared a video of the incident on his Facebook page on the 15th (local time).

He explained that the reason he filmed the video while struggling with the kangaroo was, "I thought no one would believe me."

In the video filmed by Molloy, a kangaroo larger than an average adult male is seen strangling a large dog’s neck underwater.

The large dog’s name is 'Hatchy,' and it is Molloy’s pet. When Molloy approached the kangaroo to save his dog, the kangaroo raised both arms and struck Molloy’s chest.

Due to this attack, Molloy dropped his phone into the water, so the footage of Molloy attacking the kangaroo was not captured in the video.

As Moloney approached, the kangaroo struck Moloney's chest with both arms. This attack caused Moloney to drop his mobile phone into the water. [Video source=Facebook]

After the situation seemed to settle, Molloy picked up his phone and filmed the kangaroo, which was puffing up its body and glaring at Molloy in a defensive stance. Molloy, facing off against the kangaroo, left the scene to avoid another attack on himself and his dog.

The video spread widely on other social media platforms such as TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), becoming a major sensation. In particular, the video posted on TikTok surpassed 2.5 million views, and major foreign media outlets including the UK daily The Telegraph and the US ABC News also focused on Molloy’s story.

According to Molloy, the incident occurred near the Murray River in Mildura, a town in southern Victoria, Australia. At the time, he was walking his dog and briefly looked away to stretch, during which Hatchy disappeared. While searching the area, Molloy discovered the kangaroo strangling Hatchy’s neck.

Molloy explained, "Water was spurting from Hatchy’s mouth, and he was groaning painfully," adding, "The kangaroo had its arm underwater and was staring at me."

Molloy said, "I warned the kangaroo with a gesture to release the dog, but it didn’t let go," and "I punched the kangaroo’s mouth to save Hatchy." However, he described the tense moment, saying, "The kangaroo then grabbed me, and there was a bit of a struggle."

After rescuing the pet dog Hatch, the kangaroo and owner Moloney are confronting each other.
[Video source=Facebook]

For ordinary people, fighting a kangaroo barehanded like Molloy did can be dangerous. Molloy, a former police officer and instructor in mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, said even he felt fear when facing the kangaroo, describing it as looking like "someone who just got out of prison."

In particular, the eastern gray kangaroo Molloy confronted can grow to weigh 55 kg and stand over 2 meters tall.

Cal Barnes, an associate professor of ecology at New England University in Australia, said, "They are strong animals," and warned, "They usually attack people by kicking, which can cause bruises or puncture wounds from their sharp claws."

Lisa Palma, head of the wildlife support organization Wildlife Victoria, advised, "Kangaroos are wild animals and consider humans and dogs as predators," and recommended, "In areas where kangaroos frequently appear, keep a close watch on your pets and check if they respond when you call their names if they go out of sight."

She added, "If you encounter a kangaroo, never approach it directly and contact the center’s emergency response team."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.