Dog killed by 'Staffie' in Doncaster park

UNITED KINGDOM -- The distraught owner of a dog which was mauled to death by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in a popular Doncaster park is furious that the ‘killer’ animal has been returned to its owners.

Christine Hobson (above), whose tiny nine-year-old Papillon Kezzy was killed while out walking in Cantley Park, is speaking out to warn other dog owners following the attack.

Mrs Hobson says she is struggling to eat and sleep after witnessing the horrific incident and fears the dog, which has been returned to its owners, could strike again.

She said: “I don’t think I’ll ever get the images of what happened to Kezzy out of my head. I’ll never get over this – she was part of our family.

“I want to at least warn people that this dog is roaming around. This dog could strike again. It is a danger to other dogs and even children in my opinion.”

Mrs Hobson was out walking Kezzy, who weighed just 4.3kg, and her Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie), Jake, when the dog attacked on October 8 at the popular dog walking spot in Everingham Road.

She said: “I had seen the Staffie walking with no collar on and no signs of an owner. The next thing I heard a terrible growling and squealing and felt a tug on Kezzy’s lead.

“I tried everything I could to get the dog off Kezzy but it just kept biting her and wouldn’t let go. There was blood everywhere and I watched my dog die in front of my eyes.”

Mrs Hobson is calling for tougher laws to be introduced following the incident and is pushing for police to bring the case to court.

Dog owners can be prosecuted under the 1871 Dogs Act if their animal attacks another animal, while the Dangerous Dogs Act can be applied to dog-on-human violence.

Staffordshire Bull Terriers, known as Staffies, are not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act, but are often confused with banned breeds like pit bulls.

> STAFFORDSHIRE TERRIERS AKA STAFFIES ARE PIT BULLS.

A police spokesman said: “An investigation is under way following an incident where a dog was attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier at around 3.40pm on Thursday, October 8 in Cantley Park, Everingham Road. The dog died following the attack.

“A 28-year-old woman from Cantley has been reported on summons on suspicion of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place. A date has not yet been set by the court for when she must attend.”

(The Star - ‎Oct 28, 2015)‎