(December 2017) United Kingdom: Woman reveals her devastating injuries after dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- A woman who police thought was ‘fed to dogs’ because of her devastating injuries has revealed the wounds she suffered when she was attacked by two hounds.

The dogs tore the flesh from Beata Obuchowska’s arms and legs while she was working at a farm in Great Amwell, Hertfordshire, in October 2014.

The 33-year-old had to undergo 24 operations, which included skin grafts and the amputation of two fingers.

Ms Obuchowska, from Enfield, north London, did not know that just two years earlier, he had had nearly 175 abused dogs and puppies seized, had whined to the courts that he had arthritis and that prison would be 'too cruel' for him so they'd given him probation with the restriction that he be banned from keeping animals for ten years.

He was violating the terms of his probation by owning 100 dogs and had no right to run the compound he rented at a farm in Great Amwell, Herts.

She had started her job just two days earlier, when boss Nijamul Islam said the dogs were “friendly” and she should just shout and push them back into the cages if they broke loose.

‘My left arm had six inch of bone visible where the dogs had torn the flesh off,’ she said. ‘My injuries were so severe that I was in hospital for three months and was in and out of surgery constantly.’

The owner of the compound Nijamul Islamhad (Nijamul Islam), 44, from Farm Road, Edgware, had left Ms Obuchowska alone after going to the shops.

She was attacked when she tried to get the dogs back into their cage.

Ms Obuchowska, who is originally from Poland, added: ‘They viciously attacked me, ripping my clothes off and biting my arms. They were so aggressive that they broke my arms. I was too weak to fight them off.

‘I tried everything I could to get them off. I kicked them, bit their noses and even kissed them but nothing worked. No one was around to hear my cries for help. Those dogs were intent on killing me.

‘I spotted my finger hanging by a thread on my right hand so I gave the animal my left arm to eat instead. I didn’t feel any pain. I was in too much shock.’

The dogs eventually left her alone, after viciously attacking her for more than ten minutes, when she played dead.

‘I was just thinking of my then four-year-old daughter, I knew I needed to survive for her sake,’ Ms Obuchowska said.

The landlord of the farm – who wasn’t connected to the dog compound – found her 40 minutes later and backed up his van so she could climb to safety. She said he ‘saved her life’.

PROBATION VIOLATION - HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO OWN ANIMALS UNTIL 2022

Islam, 44, arrived shortly after in a car but was too scared - OF HIS OWN DOGS - to get out.

He asked why an ambulance had been called, saying it could cause a “big problem” for him.

He even told Beata: “Remember, tell the police you were attacked on the road,” to try and avoid blame. Nijamul told Ms Obuchowska to lie to the police and say she’d been attacked on the road so he wouldn’t be blamed.

Islam (Islamhad) finally admitted his guilt in July and was jailed for two and a half years. He pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, two counts of being the owner of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control in a public place and breaching a disqualification imposed after conviction at St Albans Crown Court.

PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, HE WHINED ABOUT PRISON BEING 'TOO CRUEL' BECAUSE HE HAS ARTHRITIS SO THEY COURT GAVE HIM PROBATION INSTEAD -- AFTER ABUSING NEARLY 175 DOGS AND PUPPIES!

Nijamul had been previously banned from owning pets for ten years after he was convicted of 27 counts of causing unnecessary suffering to animals in 2012.

Ms Obuchowska is now asking for donations to help her pay for Christmas for her and her two children after being left unable to work.

(Metro UK - December 18, 2017)

Earlier:

• United Kingdom: Animal abuser Nijamul Islamhad (Nijamul Islam) whined to the courts that he had arthritis and jail would be too cruel for him so they gave him probation instead
• United Kingdom: Woman attacked by German Shepherds may lose her arms

Massachusetts: Westfield Police investigate animal cruelty claims

MASSACHUSETTS -- Police and animal control are investigating a claim of animal cruelty that had been made on Thursday.

Both entities were called to an address on Miller Street on three separate occasions on Thursday after someone claimed that there was a dog there who was being mistreated by being left outside for long periods of time and that the animal was “distressed,” according to the reports.

In addition, concerns were posted on Westfield-based Facebook forums regarding the treatment of the dog, with some suggesting that they may go and take the dog in an effort to reportedly save it.

Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said that several officers had investigated the matter at 5 p.m. and again at 11:30 p.m. and did not notice any signs of cruelty or abuse to the animal, however.

The reports said that the dog—a Belgian Shepherd—was fed, healthy and protected at 5 p.m., and then again around 11:30 p.m. it was reportedly “happy and healthy,” according to McCabe.

Additionally, McCabe reported that the police also observed a shelter with at least three walls, as well as bedding for the animal. The dog also reportedly had food and water.

According to Massachusetts General Law, chapter 140, section 174E—which was updated in November 2016—the protection of the dog is met if it has a shelter of at least three sides, proper bedding, enough room to stand and turn in the shelter, proper-fitting collar and tethering that is no longer than 10 feet, 4 to 7 feet from the ground and that doesn’t weigh more than one-eighth the dog’s weight.

The above applies as humane according to the law, as long as the dog is not left unattended for five consecutive hours in a 24-hour period. Also, if the dog is left unattended between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., then it cannot be for more than 15 minutes, according to the law.

Police did not report any infraction to this law, as the dog was tended to upon their arrival, which would essentially reset the time of which the dog is reportedly unattended.

Punishment for breaking this law is a written warning or fine up to $50 for the first offense, a fine of no more than $200 for the second offense and a fine of up to $500, as well as the impoundment of the dog, on a third offense.

McCabe believes that while the dog’s care is being questioned by some in the neighborhood, it is important to remember what sort of breed the dog is and how culture impacts the dog’s caretaker’s decision.

“I can see where there’s a culture issue,” McCabe said. “Had the officers thought it was a cruelty issue though, action would have been taken.”

In spite of no charges currently being filed, the Westfield Animal Control will continue to investigate the matter.

Regarding the Facebook comments made in the forums about going to rescue the dog, McCabe said that if you do go and take someone’s dog it is a crime.

“It goes without saying that taking the law into your own hands is not the way to do it,” he said.

McCabe said that if there are any concerns like this, people are urged to call the Westfield Police Department and discuss the matter with him.

(WWLP NBC Springfield - January 6, 2017)

Former solider, Shane Van Duren, who neglected his last dog so badly it had to be euthanized, assaults and threatens officers who take another neglected dog from him

AUSTRALIA -- An Army veteran who allegedly broke into an RSPCA shelter to take back his dog later assaulted officials who went to his home looking for the animal, a court has heard.

Shane Van Duren, 41, from Canberra, broke into the RSPCA centre in Weston on Tuesday to claim his black Belgian shepherd Denzel, the court was told.

The dog, which he uses as an assistance animal for post-traumatic stress disorder, had been removed from his care due to neglect concerns.

He allegedly cut through three fences to get to the dog.

On Wednesday, police and an RSPCA inspector went to Van Duren's home in Deakin where they found the animal.

Van Duren allegedly refused to hand over the animal and ran out of the back door with the dog.

"You're not getting the dog," he told them, according to court documents.

When police tried to arrest him, Van Duren allegedly punched Constable Daniel Neit twice in the jaw, after which the pair wrestled on the ground.

RSPCA senior inspector Catherine Croatto then stepped in, but Van Duren allegedly put his arm around her neck and put her in a choke hold, saying he would kill her.

"I'm going to fucking kill you," he said. "You're dead bitch ... dead inside a year."

Outburst an 'explosive loss of self control'
The prosecutor said Ms Croatto's face "turned dark red".

Another police officer tried unsuccessfully to subdue Van Duren with spray, before using a baton on his lower leg.

Van Duren has been charged with trespass, damaging Commonwealth property, making a threats to kill, attempting to escape and two counts of assault.

The court heard he served in the Australian Army until 2001, and that he now used the dog to help cope with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Van Duren's lawyer said his client thought the dog was lost and he did not know the RSPCA had taken it.But the prosecutor said a letter from the RSPCA had been sent to him, saying Denzel had been seized.

The prosecutor said Van Duren was on the RSPCA's radar after his last dog was put down due to neglect.

Magistrate Beth Campbell described Van Duren's alleged actions as an "explosive loss of self control".

"Something is wrong for this man to act with so much aggression," she said.

Magistrate Campbell refused to grant him bail, finding there was a need to protect the safety of RSCPA staff.

She also asked for a forensic mental health report.

Van Duren will appear in court again in February.

(ABC Net AU - Dec 30, 2015)

United Kingdom: Woman attacked by German Shepherds may lose her arms

UNITED KINGDOM -- The woman who was savaged by two dogs in Great Amwell last week was so badly injured her arms may be amputated.

Herts police today (Friday) confirmed the extent of the 30-year-old Londoner’s wounds, who is still in Stevenage’s Lister Hospital, after a nationwide manhunt appeal was aired last night.

 

  

  

 

 

 

BBC One’s Crimewatch carried a segment dedicated to tracing Nijamul Islam (aka Nijamul Islamhad), 41, who is wanted for assault after the woman was mauled by two German shepherds.

The Edgeware resident is believed to have been running kennels at the B1502 Stanstead Road scene of last Wednesday’s attack, where the woman, identified as Beata Obuchowska from Poland, is thought to have been cleaning.

After police were called by paramedics they discovered 99 dogs, and had to destroy 40 of them due to their “ill health” and “aggressive nature”.

The two dogs that maimed the woman escaped, but were captured by a police officer and a dog warden.

PROBATION VIOLATION DUE TO PREVIOUS ANIMAL CRUELTY CONVICTION - WASN'T ALLOWED TO OWN ANIMALS UNTIL 2022

It has emerged Islam was banned from keeping animals for 10 years in 2012, after he was found guilty of a slew of animal cruelty offenses relating to a pet hotel (pet boarding business) in Elstree.  He was also claiming to be a dog trainer and training dogs to be 'guard dogs'. Nearly 175 dogs and puppies (American Bulldogs, German Shepherds and Rottweilers) were seized after being found locked in cages in horrendous living conditions.

Islam (aka Islamhad) whined to the courts back in 2012 that he had arthritis and complained it would worsen if he were sent to prison so they felt sorry for him and gave him probation! 

He wasn't supposed to own animal animals for 10 years yet he immediately went out and started a new business with dogs -- and authorities did nothing about it until this woman was nearly killed.

Chief Inspector for East Herts, Gerry McDonald, said: “I would appeal to anyone who knows of the whereabouts of Nijamul Islam (Nijamul Islamhad) to contact police immediately as officers would like to speak with him as part of their investigations.

“We have been making attempts to trace him however; I am now asking members of the public to assist and let us know if they have seen him since last Wednesday or have any information on his whereabouts.”

He added: “The victim suffered life-changing injuries and it cannot be underestimated just how serious this incident was.

“The conditions that these dogs were kept in were unacceptable and our work with partners, including East Herts District Council and the RSPCA, began immediately to deal with the welfare of the animals and to secure the site in what has been a challenging operation.”

Two men were arrested at the scene. A 20-year-old man from Edmonton and a 27-year-old man from Buckinghamshire have been released on police bail.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Islam should call the police’s 101 number.

(Hertfordshire Mercury  - ‎Oct 17, 2014‎)

Earlier:

• United Kingdom: Animal abuser Nijamul Islamhad (Nijamul Islam) whined to the courts that he had arthritis and jail would be too cruel for him so they gave him probation instead