This is a horrible story and may upset you

[lottielady]

The pleasure of taking our dogs for a walk here has been taken away from us. I have not given a full description as it is far too gory.

This week I have heard about 2 dogs that have been attacked by two Pit Bull terriers, the first was a short way up the canal where I walk my dogs, it was a little Westie belonging to an elderly couple, a chap who lives oposite the canal run up on the bridge and beat the dogs off the little Westie, the owner of the Pit Bulls just carried on riding his bike and did'nt try to call the dogs off. Sadly this little Westie has died of it's injuries and it's owners are beside theirselves with grief.

The front page of our local paper has a story running of another child being attacked by a Bull Mastiff, their own pet. At the end of this story is another about a Norfolk Terrier being attacked at the lake by two Pit Bulls - the same two Pit Bulls that attacked the Westie. There is a very slim chance that the Norfolk Terrier will survive. The police and RSPCA are well informed of both stories.

The RSPCA had taken these Pit Bulls away, on a previous occasion, as they were told they were being trained to fight, they returned them to the owner when they decided that was not the case. The owner was advised to keep them on leads and to muzzle them when they were outside. Fat lot of good that was..... everyone here is now on tenterhooks while walking their dogs. Why anyone would want to keep a dog that is classed as dangerous is beyond me - but the pure irresponsibility of people that do have them has made me despair.

I have just found out that it is not against the 'dangerous dog' law for a dog to attack or kill another dog...



Apologies if any one is upset reading this - but I wanted to make people aware in case this sort of thing happens where you live.

LL x

[MamIDdau]

We had a similar thing on West Shore in Llandudno a few weeks ago. I think it was an alsatian attacking a smaller dog (can't remember what breed) but it was an elderly lady with her elderly dog who was partially blind etc. Alsatian basically savaged this dog while the owner just stood there and all the owner said was "not my problem, my dog was on a lead" and walked off leaving the woman to pick up her dead dog. Absolutely appalling and enraging.

We have a westie and I know what beautiful friendly dogs they are. Sally has even coped with my 2 year old niece poking her for hours without attacking her, which is more than can be said for the dog that attacked that young girl who merely went into the kitchen while the dog was being fed. Why is it "OK" for a dog to kill another dog and the owner not be prosecuted? I would have thought at least it would be criminal damage or something such as if you allowed your car to roll into someone else's, you would be liable for the damage?!

Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

[netherfield]

That is awful,which is why our own dogs when out of our property are always on their leads.

2 years ago my Brother in law was checking on a newly calved cow in the fields above and behind our house,unknown to him at the time someone was walking a dog down the footpath of the next field,when the dog saw the cow it jumped over the wall and came barking towards them,resulting in the cow gettting agitated butting my BIL who ended up with 3 broken ribs,the dogs owner simply whistled of the dog and dissappeared very quickly and the day after denied ever having been near the place,luckily when the dog went away the cow gave up it's attack and my BIL was able to call for help on his mobile phone.

[lottielady]

Thanks for your replies A & N - I have just found out that the dogs were American Bulldogs and not Pit Bulls so don't even come near the dangerous dog act. My friends and I took this matter to our local MP and he has been in contact with the police who have assured him they are taking it very seriously and are working closely with the RSPCA to stop this irresponsible guy.

LL x

[4pygmies]

That's a terrible story. It's upsetting but it also makes me seethe with rage. I watched that peculiar lady, Victoria someone on TV last night and was gobsmacked at some of those gormless people! There are very few bad dogs really, just appallingly stupid owners! I don't understand why anyone would want a "dangerous" breed of dog as a pet anyway but I have to say I feel sorry for some of these dogs - the owners need putting down, not the dogs! (Not really obviously). My dog, Toby, is a spaniel cross, beautiful, gentle and loved BUT he is still a dog and I never take it for granted that he will behave at all times in any situation. A member of my own family has 2 Rottweilers and two young children and the way they are allowed to crawl all over the dogs makes me cringe - the dogs just need one bad moment and something terrible will happen. I just don't understand it.

[sweetleaf]

A friend of mine had two dogs, one a rottweiller called Tiny and a "Heinz 57" mutt, the rottweiller savaged a litttle boy who fell into "his" garden when tightrope walking on top of the fence. The heinz dog was terrified and cowered until the police came and took the rottweiller away, the poor boy lost his leg and it was said that the "rotty" had eaten parts of it. These breeds were bred for hunting and fighting ,its irresponsible to sell them to people to be kept as pets, as 4P says it only takes one bad moment....

[Deleted]

Bring back dog licensing I say - with a record of the breed kept - costing more for "guard dogs" and less for placid dogs

[Rosefriend]

Obviously I do no longer know the laws in England but here in Germany we do have Dog Licenses with extremely high fees for so called "fighting dogs". Ones on a red list have to go through an obedience test and if necessary be muzzled and lined.

All well and good in theory - in practice it rarely happens. Children and other dogs have been mutilated and I have no doubt that it will always be the case - sadly.

As prostitution is a big trade here in Germany - Hamburg in particular, these "fighting dogs" are often used as tools of the trade. Nothing better to keep the girls in line - dogs and fists and sometimes a lot worse. Life is hard. These people though have the money for all the high fees - it doesn't bother them.

I have had two dogs - one a German Shepherd who was the most fantastic dog and the biggest coward on 4 legs, and a dwarf Dachshund Terrier (Teckel) who was the nastiest bitch (literally) on 4 legs if she wanted to be. I have the scars to prove it.

However one thing that I do know is that dogs are not born into the world as being viscous and bad (or rarely) - it is the owners and/ or situations that make them so.

Rosefriend

[Deleted]

As Barbara Woodhouse used to say "there are no bad dogs, just bad owners" - very true indeed.

[Deleted]

There are a number of pit-bulls around our area ... mainly owned by young men who obviously feel they have something to compensate for! One of these beasts (the dog, I mean - not the fellow) often roams around without a leash, never mind a muzzle, which is against the law. If I see this animal, I always cross to the other side of the street, just in case. This has nothing to do with people wanting and loving their pet - having a pit bull or rottweiler is purely about status, and in fact the leashless one does not look at all well cared for or fed . The sooner the 'fashion' for these animals dies away, the better. I agree that <there are no bad pets, only bad owners> ... but it seems to me wanting one of these 'fighting dogs' means that the people in question are ipso facto bad owners! ... cheers ...

[sleepysunday]

Stopped over in Germany on my way to Poland (August). Stayed in Hanover for the night. And again on the way back.

Just thought I'd tell you as I havn't got anything else to say

[Rosefriend]

Unfortunately CC I do believe it is a status factor - although dog fighting is still very present in some areas. Here on the continent we have so many cultures which makes life interesting perhaps but there are also pitfalls. It is not only the Kiez (Soho equivalent) but also the Russian Mafia and many other things.

Dog lovers would be outraged to see or hear what happens to dogs in Poland and Russia for example - not for the weak hearted.

There are a couple of would be men in our village with Staffordshire's - the dogs are getting wilder and they are obviously being trained to attack. The Police know this - but as we all know they are not allowed to do anything unless the dogs really attack someone. It really is a viscous circle isn't it?

Rosefriend

[Rosefriend]

Hey sleepy, - and what did you think of Hannover?

I have only ever been there once - try to avoid big cities - more for the country life. Getting older probably - prefer a bit of peace and quiet these days.

Poland has some lovely countryside hasn't it and cheap still. Don't know how long for though.

Rosefriend

[sleepysunday]

Didn't get to see much of Hanover. We set off from Birmingham at 5am and drove to Hanover in one day. Got there at about 10pm. What I saw of the outskirts was very pretty - green, nicely laid out. We got a bit lost finding the guest house. We took the wrong turning off the autobahn. Fortunately we pulled up outside a small police station and popped in to ask the way. The officer on duty was very kind and gave us very clear directions. When I thanked him he very jovially imitated his view of an English policeman, put his hands behind his back, rocked on his heels and said, "all in the line of duty". Found the guest house within 10 minutes. Then a late night chinese restaurant where we got a very late night meal.

[sleepysunday]

The countryside in Poland is nice. Especially in the area where we were going (about 30 miles this side of Gdansk). But the roads... sigh! Very slow going. Enjoyed looking out for storks nests. Are there storks in Germany?

[Rosefriend]

Germany is like all other countries - there are the good, bad and the indifferent.......

Germany is very "green" especially Berlin and Potsdam would you believe and really worth a visit. Sans Soucci is beautiful and the Orangerie a dream for Gardeners. SIL and Co lived there for 5 years and he has just been transferred to Holland - so I suppose we will have to make our way there now.

Birmingham to Hannover - in one day - Oh Blimey - how did you go - Calais and up through France?

Rosefriend

[sleepysunday]

Calais/Belgium/Netherlands/Germany

Only traffic problem was at Antwerp

[sleepysunday]

Just looking on the web to double check my facts I came across Googles map of Europe. It's brilliant. All of Europe, and you can zoom in by L clicking, and zoom out by R clicking, and pan using the small inset. I'm impressed.


maps.google.co.uk

[Rosefriend]

I do not know about France but Belgium and Holland have good roads . Better to my mind than Germany

The last few years we have always done the Rottterdam/Hull tour - or to try and break the monotony Cuxhaven/Harwich but unfortunately that line has been stopped now.

OH drives well on the left - I had to pull him up last time as he was just doing 140 kmh in England - don't think that the Police would have been too happy about that personally.

I would love to get over more often but there always seems to be something that stops us.

Rosefriend

[MamIDdau]

The 2 dogs I was talking about were both on leads but the guy just shrugged and said it wasn't his problem as his dog was on a lead and left the woman to pick up the body of her elderly dog. That must be a criminal offence of some sort mustn't it?!

It made the front page of our local paper anyway. Not that that takes much.... they put something about bonnets on it a few months ago and I don't mean car bonnets.

[lottielady]

aprilaydee said:

The 2 dogs I was talking about were both on leads but the guy just shrugged and said it wasn't his problem as his dog was on a lead and left the woman to pick up the body of her elderly dog. That must be a criminal offence of some sort mustn't it?!

It made the front page of our local paper anyway. Not that that takes much.... they put something about bonnets on it a few months ago and I don't mean car bonnets.

Hi A - I have just been told that the guy here was arrested on behalf of the RSPCA for causing unnecessary cruelty to animals - but he has been released - so I am sure that those grounds cover the guy in your area even if the dogs were on leads - report it to the RSPCA and police if you know who the guy is.

We are also making everyone we meet aware of the guy here and what they must do if they see him out with the dogs without leads and muzzles, so maybe you can do the same to alert people to be on the look out for your guy when out with their dogs.


LL x

[anneliesje]

Dear LL <hug>

What an awful story.
To be honest, I'm afraid of dogs! Although your dogs look very gentle LL! And I once took care of a german shepard with the name of Bowie!We were the best of friends!

But When I see someone on the street with a dog looking like a pitbull or like a fighting machine, I cross the street. There have been to many stories in the news (as well in Belgium) about kids bitten to death by this kind of dogs. And not necessarily unknown children, in most cases the kids of the owner of the dog.

Horrible Horrible!
I think there is a law in Belgium against these dogs now, but I'm not really sure.
But as long as people don't take their responsabilities towards their dogs, or kids <yikes>, nothing will change.
It is them stretching the borders of their freedom, that limit the freedom of others, or take away a "safety" feeling.
Good Luck LL. I hope the police will do something about it. But it is good that some of you rang the bell. They cannot turn away anymore and say "we didn't know".
<hug>

[JennyWrenn]

I fear that the press making these dogs appear dangerous is only giving them appeal to thugs who want to look cool and have a dog that is menacing

If an article appeared in the press stating that Pit Bulls are just pussy cats then their appeal would diminish for those who are looking for killer pets

It's like a banned record suddenly gets to No 1 in the charts

Such sad stories in this thread awful for the elderly people who lose their dogs in such a way it must affect their health dreadfully

[4pygmies]

What sad, inadequate people they are eh? BUT I do remember years ago watching a TV programme about people and dogs in a London park - a earringed, tattooed man strutting about with his very mean looking pit bull type dog looking "hard". He is training his dog (he thinks...), he makes his dog sit, walks away, turns and calls him - the dog charges at him full tilt, the man looks round smirking and the dog hits him straight in the sensitive trouser area! He collapses in agony, the dog stands back looking even meaner and after a while strutting hard man staggers off with his dog on a lead now watched by millions of laughing TV viewers......it never fails to cheer me thinking of that scene when I see these wallies walking along in town imagining how tough they look!
Reading about these terrible incidents is one of the very few occasions when I think stocks, rotten fruit and public shaming wasn't such a bad punishment. And everyone who buys one of these dogs should be made to view a catalogue of the injuries they have caused to children and other dogs...and should sign some sort of guarantee that if their animal does inflict any hurt they will suffer a similar injury to themselves! Might work?

[Deleted]

Yes I'm with you 4P - stocks, public naming and shaming must be the way forward.

[Deleted]

Just wanted to say; there are far too many like you say 'would be men' hanging around our junior school waiting to collect someone with these kind of dogs. They ARE a uniform to look hard. There's also a lot of dog poo outside there too but that's another matter. These dogs scare me stiff.
My mother in law had some kind of yappy, highly strung terrier and couldn't understand why I made such a big deal of the dog not being in the room when the children were around when they were toddlers and screechy. My hubby used to assure me that the dog was kept out of the room, as she wouldn't listen to me and would probably do the opposite of what I asked irregardless of the danger. And then she would proudly announce that the dog DID come in as a power thing to wind me up. Caused no end of rows but both MIL and hubby needed their heads banging together to get through to them that it was the children's safety I was bothered about and not scoring points. Oh happy days! My dad's dog went for my nephew when he was a toddler and bit a lump out of his side for presumably too much high pitched noise and showing of teeth and went for me too once or twice so I did know what I was talking about.

[lottielady]

I think all these stories go to prove that it's irresponsible owners who are to blame for all these terrible events. I have just found out that the Bulldogs in my area have attacked another small dog - so thats 3 different dogs in just under 3 weeks. I can only hope that the Bulldogs are taken away from him and given to someone who can control them properly - but then that doesn't stop him from getting more of the same dogs.

Mrs B your MIL sounds awful! Sorry!

LL x

[Deleted]

Another child was attacked in Norfolk this week by a pit bull.

A six-year-old girl was recovering in hospital yesterday after being tossed around "like a rag doll" by a pit bull terrier in a savage attack.

The dog turned on Tyla Cole as she arrived with her father, Marcus, at a friend's house on the way to a christening on Sunday.

Initially, the American pit bull looked pleased to see them and was wagging its tail. But moments later, the dog attacked.

Mr Cole, 34, of Dixon Road, Cromer, managed to pry the animal off his daughter - but not before she suffered terrible injuries.

Tyla, who has undergone two operations since the attack and will need physiotherapy to help her walk again, was still in hospital recovering last night.

The dog has been put down.

"It gave no intention that it was about to attack, it looked happy to see us then out of nowhere it pounced," Mr Cole said. "Tyla was like a rag doll being dragged around. I managed to get it off her back, but then it bit her thigh, so I prized open its jaws and tried to separate the two.

"The attack could only have lasted about 30 seconds but it seemed never-ending.

"When I got her to safety, people had to put a blanket over her because the dog had ripped off her new dress."

Tyla has had two operations, including plastic surgery, to try to repair the damage to her back and right thigh but will be permanently scarred. She also needs physiotherapy to help her to be able to walk again.

Her mother, Claire Storey, 27, of Woodrow Avenue, Holt, said: "She's been incredibly brave about the whole thing. To be honest she was more upset about her new dress for the christening being ripped.

"The scary thing is that we didn't leave her alone with a dog or provoke the dog, we just couldn't have seen it coming. From now on I'll always feel uneasy about how dogs are going to react and apparently Tyla may need counselling to recover from the shock of it."

Mr Cole said: "I just want to warn parents out there to be so so wary. You always read about it happening to other people but think there must be some warning sign but there really isn't, it's terrifying."

This is the most recent in a spate of dog attacks. Last month a five-month-old baby was killed by two Rottweilers in Leicester and in Yarmouth a man was attacked by a German shepherd cross.

Sophie Wilkinson, spokesman for the RSPCA said: "It's a common misconception that pit bulls need muzzles in public although they are one of the four dog breeds covered under the dangerous dogs act.

"We would advise parents to never leave a child alone with a dog and to always keep an eye on them.

"Owners should look out for any strange behaviour in their dog and if they do spot something then to take them to dog training classes, because ultimately if dogs do something it's the responsibility of the owners."

[Deleted]

That poor litle girl! She's the same age as my youngest daughter...

Lottie my MIL IS awful. And has lost the plot. She's a 'noone tells me what to do' kind of person.

[lottielady]

Just an update on this situation. I have just been told by our community police lady that the Bulldogs have been taken from the owner by the RSPCA. The Westie is recovering well too, we saw him this morning and although he now has wonky ears he is looking more like his old self!

We are all really happy to walk our dogs again

LL x