UNITED KINGDOM -- A devastated pensioner has told how her Jack Russell was mauled to death by a crazed bull terrier, before the killer dog was wrestled off by an off-duty bobby.
Kath Abbotts, 67, says the officer’s actions prevented the incident escalating into something even more horrific as the snarling (Staffordshire) pit bull terrier ran amok on parkland as frightened children looked on.
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| RIP Tilly |
Despite his efforts, the terribly injured pet had to be put down. Her traumatized owner cradled the dying dog in the back of a police car as it raced to a nearby veterinary surgery.
Heartbroken Kath publicly thanked the Pc.
“He’s a brave man because that dog could have savaged him. He was brilliant, he calmed me down. I want to thank him for what he did.”
She has written a letter to West Midlands Police top brass, chronicling the Pc’s heroics. The Birmingham Mail has tracked down the modest officer, who wants to remain anonymous, and given his details to Kath.
Kath is now calling for the Staffordshire bull terrier, impounded by police after Monday’s incident, to be put down.
“Tilly was larger-than-life,” she said. “I’ve lost dogs and I’ve lost people, but losing Tilly has upset me the most. She was lovely, not offensive at all.”
The nightmare unfolded as Kath walked Tilly, who’s been at her Druids Heath home for two years, and pointer-cross Tyson on their leads.
Without warning, the bull terrier, not on a lead and supervised by two young girls, pounced.
“It made a bee-line for her, grabbed her nose and just hung on," said Kath.
"I was shouting to the girls to hit him, kick him. The girls were hysterical. I have seen dogs nip each other, but this was like one of those illegal dog fights. He was shaking Tilly like a ragdoll.”
At one stage, Tilly managed to break free and Kath desperately tried to flee the area with her wounded pet.
But the bull terrier struck again, this time clamping its jaws around petrified Tilly’s throat.
Alerted by the blood-spattered pensioners screams, the policeman waded-in.
“He grabbed the terrier's front legs and pulled it to the ground,” added Kath. “He was lying on the dog and told me to get the phone out of his pocket and ring 999.”
Three squad cars raced to the scene, arriving at the same time as the Staffie’s owner. “He kept on telling them it wasn’t a dangerous dog,” recalled Kath.
Police took Kath, holding her beloved pet, to a nearby vets, but the dog had lost too much blood to be saved.
“I was upset, but now I’m also angry,” said the grandmother. “I can’t understand why you wouldn’t have a dog like that on a lead. It could’ve been a child.”
A spokesman for West Mercia Police - the force dealing with the incident - said: “The Staffordshire bull terrier remains in police kennels while the investigation continues.
“A man has been interviewed and reported on suspicion of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control. A decision has yet to be made on whether to summons the owner.”
(Birmingham Mail - Feb 15, 2014)
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