UNITED KINGDOM -- A Bexhill student whose dog was viciously attacked by two Staffordshire Bull Terriers says more needs to be done to control ‘status symbol’ dog owners.
Emma Levett, 18, was walking Rufus, a Westie cross, on the green by Barrack Road and the B2182 near Chantry Primary School, on August 30 when the incident took place.
Emma, a student at the University of Reading, said: “It’s a common place for children to play after school and people to walk their dogs.
“As me and my partner entered the green we spotted two Staffies on the other side being goaded by their male owner. The two dogs noticed Rufus and charged straight for him.
“The Staffies started snapping their teeth, biting and snarling. Rufus is a little dog and he did not stand a chance against their aggressive behaviour.”
Emma said the dogs’ female owner called to them and shouted to Emma to hit them.
“I tried to get them to back off by hitting them with a ball thrower, but the dogs paid no attention and carried on attacking Rufus.”
The Staffordshire Bulls’ owners appeared to get their dogs under control, only to release them again.
Emma said: “ Fortunately my partner was able to pick Rufus up, but the dogs carried on the attack, jumping up in my partner’s face trying to bite Rufus. We thought Rufus was okay but his ear was bleeding.”
Eventually the Staffies were caught and Emma claims their female owner proceeded to beat them and then tried to soothe Rufus who cowered and shook. “I told her that people like her shouldn’t have dogs because beating a dog will often cause aggressive behaviour.”
Emma said the woman then became aggressive towards her and left without apologising for what Emma describes as a “frightening attack”, . She said: “I have no doubt that if I was unable to grab my dog, the Staffies would have killed him.”
Rufus suffered a torn ear in the attack.
Emma said: “What worries me is that the two dogs were not hesitating to be aggressive around me. The green is a popular playing ground for children. What would happen if they attacked another dog and a child got in the way?
“I believe it is a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or a family pet is killed.
“I feel this is an issue that is relevant in today’s society.
“People are buying dogs as a status symbol with no concern for the dog’s welfare and the safety of others.”
Emma reported the incident to Sussex Police and Rother District Council whose head of environmental health, Richard Parker-Harding, said: “The council is sorry to hear of this dog attack and understands the distress this must have caused both the animal and the owner.
“While the council does deal with the matter of dog on dog attacks and takes all complaints seriously, in practice it’s very difficult to deal with cases such as this on limited evidence.
“If the dog can be identified and a case proven, we will take action, but an investigation by the council is unlikely to succeed if we do not have enough information or evidence to trace the owners of the dogs who made the alleged attack. Ultimately, of course, the blame for any such incident lies with the irresponsible owners of the attacking animals.
“Therefore it is worth reminding people that it is an offence to allow any dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place, or a private place where it is not permitted to be, even if it does not cause an injury.”
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: “The local PCSO has been investigating the matter and has spoken to both parties whereby words of advice have been offered.”
(Bexhill Observer - September 17, 2011)
