'What a mess' — farmer shocked by cow's injuries in 'sickening' dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- A Perthshire farmer is calling for tough action on dangerous dogs after he was left “sickened” by a ferocious attack on his livestock.

Ian Harris, 67, who farms near Pitlochry, described the attack on one of his pregnant cows by a Staffordshire bull terrier as a “horrific experience” and said it could as easily have involved a child.

“It is unbelievable the damage that has been done to the cow’s face,” said a shocked Mr Harris. “If this dog had got hold of the cow’s windpipe it would be dead, it would have killed it.

“She was quaking and there was blood coming out of her nose and mouth. What a mess.

“A huge furrow has been gouged in the head and the cow’s mouth was so badly ripped it couldn’t be stitched — some of the lip had to be cut away and hopefully it will heal over.

“On the throat there are big teeth marks,” he added.

Mr Harris who has suffered in the past from dog attacks — he stopped keeping sheep after his flock was devastated some years ago — said he was “incensed” by the incident and would like to see swift action taken.

In particular he would like a clampdown on the rehoming of abandoned Staffordshire bull terriers to people who may not understand the dangers.

“They are so unpredictable these dogs,” said Mr Harris.

“What they have taken on is someone else’s problem, something should be done about these dogs being recycled into the community. I have no idea why people keep them.”

Mr Harris said the police told him the dog had been destroyed and while coming to terms with the incident he feared what the consequences would have been if the victim had been human.

“No one can fend them off, if it was an elderly person or child it would pull them down, they are so frightening,” he said.

Mr Harris said that he wanted people to realise what they were taking on when they took on a Staffordshire bull terrier as a pet.

“They do not seem to get the message,” he said. “Anyone who has kids and has that kind of dog, they should keep them restrained, they should be muzzled.

“It is always this type of dog. We are a bit soft, there should be tougher rules. Innocent folk are getting hurt.”

Police Scotland confirmed that it had received a report of a dog attacking a cow in Pitlochry on January 4.

A spokeswoman said the dog’s 21-year-old owner had since been traced and the matter remained under investigation. It is understood that the dog has already been destroyed.

(The Courier - Jan 9, 2015)