If your dog gets attacked....

[Sue Allen]

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[Mr Bump]

Sue, this very much reminds me of AMK1977's post on 11 November in the 'what annoyed you today?' thread. He got exactly the same less-than-helpful response from the police as is described in your linked newspaper article:

A police spokesman said: “We assess reports of dog attacks in the same way as any other incident, in terms of what is the risk or danger to members of the public. Reports of a dog attacking any other animal are not a police matter.”

So who is it left to? - the RSPCA? That seems wholly unsatisfactory to me. Out of control dogs and particularly their owners are a menace.

I hope Lucy makes a full recovery but her injuries look horrific.

Bump

[AndyStevens]

I hope Lucy makes a full and swift recovery.

And I still can't believe that you can be out with several dogs with no control and the police will do nothing! Aren't Staffordshire Bull Terriers on the dangerous list and supposed to be muzzled? I know it's generally the owners who need muzzling but isn't this akin to walking the streets with a big knife?! Amazes me you can get away with this.

[Cathus]

Sue,

so let me get this right, you're advocating that people lie when they report something to the police & risk getting prosecuted for perverting the course of justice?

The police round my way do deal with dog on dog attacks; the policy is that if someone is in fear of being attacked then this is sufficient for police to deal, whether they do that in Northants is down to their own policy, so it's unfair to come on & lambast 'the police' generally.
Though the government have removed powers from the police from several matters which they used to deal with - noise, parking, dogs

Staffies are not on the dangerous dogs list there are only 4 or 5 breeds listed as banned dogs which includes American Pitbull & the others are breeds that nobody ever hears of including Japanese fighting dog (tosa?) Dogo Arentino & some Brazillian breed & the list is not about muzzling a dog but owning one, they are banned from ownership.

So in short, the conclusions drawn from the OPs story are factually incorrect.

[rbarry]

It's sickening that a dog owner can allow this to happen. If any domestic dog has the temperament to attack another animal or person it has invariably been nurtured to do so by an ignorant, irresponsible or malicious owner. Staffordshire bull terriers make great pets, pit bull terriers not so much so I suspect these dogs were something more than Staffordshires. That said, dogs of other breeds off the leash, in a pack with little or no domestic training from an irresponsible owner could wreak havoc.

I remember the thread Mr Bump referred to of the unprovoked attack on AMK1977's dog, whose dog I belive is a staffordshire bull terrier. I hope he is on the mend, if not fully recovered.

I lost my two dogs within 13 months of each other relatively recently, but through natural causes. Non dog owners find it hard to empathise with the loss of a dog, after all it's only another animal and not a human being. However, we get very attached to our pets, and I miss my labradors who were such loyal and gentle friends, and considered as part of the family. My daughter who is eleven, had never known life without them and it's hard for her to come to terms with, especially as Meg died a week before her 10th birthday and Ben died a week after her 11th.

It's upsetting to lose a loved one whatever the circumstances, but it's made so much worse when the threat to one's existance is the result of a vicious unprovoked attack. If that loved one is a family pet, it means little or nothing to those not directly related, but is devastating to a pet loving owner.

[Sue Allen]

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[Cathus]

Sue,

I didn't 'infer' anything, I asked if that was what you were suggesting, presumably from your response to it, you are actually not suggesting that at all, but it's very difficult from a one liner to know your reasoning.

Further, my response was to all three posters, not just yourself, clearly I have no idea what your knowledge of the law on dangerous dogs is, but Andy thought Staffies might be on the dangerous dogs list; I was directing that specific info to him.

In regards to policy, as I alluded to, the government took away the responsibility for most dog complaint-type enforcement from the police & gave it to local councils. The way that usually breaks down is that the police deal with dog on human attacks & the council deal with dog on dog, stray dogs, dog-fouling etc.

The original story gives a quote from the council to say they were aware of the attack "but had few resources to trace the owner". So we have a situation where the government have said the responsibility lies with the council but the council don't have the resources to deal with it, so we'll blame the police for the government's policy & for not seeing through their decision-making process by making sure the council have the resources to deal adequately with something they have been told to take under their wing.

It's the same with noise, some councils supply out of hours Environmental Health Officers to attend noisey parties, most don't. It's no longer the responsibility of the police to deal with noise issues but who gets the blame when the local council don't have the resources to deal with it & someone is kept awake at 3am?

The fact that my local police will investigate similar matters is not proof that all police forces should be doing so, it merely shows that the chief constable has decided his local priorities will include this & that he is going against the guidance from the government.

How well local councils deal with dangerous dog reports is often down to the individual animal warden. Some will take these on, others decline. It doesn't appear to matter what the national picture or guidance is & you may well find that the animal warden next door to where this story happens does deal with similar reports.

[Balenciaga]

Well being a dog lover and having had dogs my entire life, I just didnt want to look at the article but I did and have regretted it..what a terrible attack on a lovely little dog..its quite upest me, the fear is very apparant in her eyes even now, no animal should live in fear.

I just want to say I hope that Lucy survives and soon feels better..poor little soul.. the physical scars will heal in time but the emotional scars will remain forever..I doubt she will ever feel safe ever again bless her..Sue if you know the owners please send my best wishes and a cuddle for Lucy..

Bal

[Sue Allen]

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[rienza]

I hope the poor dog recovers quickly from it's injuries.

It's not just other dogs that owners have to be beware of. People too can be a problem. Just over 2 years ago a woman was walking through our property, an old farm yard, and our German Shepherd dog barked at her. He didn't attempt to bite her. If he'd wanted to he would have done.
She hit him with a stout stick making him yelp and cry. She carried on walking up the hill at the back of our house. I didn't know her. She shouldn't have been there but no doubt thought she had the right to roam.

Two weeks later when we were visiting our family in Derbyshire the dog became ill so we took him to the vet.
Our dog had a ruptured spleen caused by, according to the vet, a sharp blow.
There was nothing the vet could do so we had the dog put to sleep.