“I’ve seen lions and wolves on the TV but I’ve never seen anything like this”

UNITED KINGDOM -- A dog owner was fined by police after three of his animals attacked and killed a neighbour’s chickens.

Officers were called to an address on New Hall Road, Scarisbrick, at 10.30am on Thursday morning after receiving a call from a 67-year-old woman who said she was trapped in her house by three dogs which were attacking chickens in her garden.

Two members of West Lancashire Borough Council’s Environmental Enforcement Team helped police seize two of the dogs, which were thought to be Staffordshire Bull Terriers and not  prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

A spokesperson from Lancashire Police said: “During the incident the dog owner arrived and became very irate and upset that two of his dogs had been taken away.

“We explained that it was his responsibility to keep his dogs secure or he could face a fine.”

The man agreed to pay a fine of £85 per dog for two of the dogs which were then released and returned to him.

An American Bulldog was also secured at the address.

Following the attack, the victim, Marilyn Johnson, described the scene as being “like something from a horror movie”.

She said: “I was going out shopping and I had just got out of the door when three dogs came through the gate, stopped and stared at me.

“One of the dogs ran towards me and then they all seemed to go into attack mode and charged at me before dragging my shopping trolley away.”

“I’ve seen lions and wolves on the TV but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Ms Johnson managed to escape back into her house but was then forced to listen as the dogs rampaged through her garden attacking her chickens.

“The big one kept coming back to the door where I was and then I watched them go for the chickens.

“I could hear screaming and growling. It was horrendous.

“I saw one of them with my black cockerel and they were eating it alive like something from a horror film.

“There isn't a bone left and they were there licking up the blood.

“There is a children’s playground just up the road and if a child had been about I dread to think what might have happened.”

West Lancashire Borough Council's Environmental Enforcement Team were unavailable for comment.

(Liverpool Echo - Nov 7, 2013)