Friday, November 4, 2016

United Kingdom: Victim calls for 'dangerous dog' to be destroyed following attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- A Coleraine dog lover has called for a 'dangerous dog' to be put down after it attacked him at the Rugby Avenue playing fields in the town.

As a dog lover and owner himself, the Mountsandel resident who wished to remain nameless, felt he has had no option but to make the call as he fears the dog will attack again with a much more deadly outcome.

"I had just parked in my normal place to take my two dogs for a walk and I saw this man with an German Shepherd type dog and two other small dogs about 30 yards away," explained the retired civil servant.

"I'm familiar with many people who walk the dog in this area but I didn't recognise him and I don't know what it was but I thought, 'Don't let the girls out'.

"I was starting to walk round the side of car when I heard the owner shout, 'Watch him, watch him'.


"I was at the passenger door when the next thing I knew the dog had jumped on my back and got me down onto the ground. I tried to get the door open but it was locked.

"It sank its teeth deep into my left thigh but somehow I managed to get up and round to the driver's door when it knocked me to the ground again and this time it bit me on my knee and it also sank his teeth into my lower right leg as I struggled to get free from it.

"Fortunately I got the driver's door open and I eventually managed to get inside the car despite the dog trying to get in after me. I shudder to think what would have happened if it had managed to get in.

"Thankfully I got the door closed but the dog kept jumping at the door and window and eventually the owner arrived."

Despite being in considerable pain and stunned by the attack, the gentleman gathered himself together before making his way to the dog's owner who had it under control and in his car.

"He just said he was sorry," said the Coleraine man. "I told him that just didn't wash and then I left to go to A&E where they treated my wounds. A couple of the puncture wounds went down to the bone, they were very painful and quite nasty."

Having reported the incident to the police while he was waiting in hospital, the victim of the attack went to the local station where he was told that it was a matter for the dog warden.

"I spoke to the dog warden and I wasn't happy with the response," said the Coleraine man.

"It has taken almost a week and a half for them to get a restraining order put on the dog but all that means is a lead and a muzzle, it cannot be put down until the matter goes to court which could take months.

"That dog should have been lifted and kept in kennels until a decision has been made by a magistrate about it. Anything could have happened in the two weeks from it attacked me, just think if it had been a young child instead of an adult like me."

Despite a restraining order being put in place the gentleman is not satisfied.

He added: "My concern is that this dog has attacked, the owner obviously did not have sufficient control plus it now has the taste of blood.

"What is done with me is done, I can't do anything about it now. It's what might happen in the future, I'm a dog lover and have an affinity with dogs so I haven't taken this decision lightly.

"I know this isn't a dangerous breed but this dog is now dangerous because it has tasted blood and carried out an unprovoked attack.

"I have spoken to quite a few dog owners since the incident and they all agree with me that this dog needs to be destroyed before it attacks again.


"The dog warden has said that it is likely they will prosecute but more often than not the magistrates are more than happy with a muzzle, however I am not happy with that.

"This was a big dog and if that man was walking with that dog again, even if it is on a lead he won't be able to hold it if it decides to attack someone again.

"I don't blame the dog I blame the owner. If he knew the dog was like that why didn't he have a muzzle on it and keep it on a lead.

"I have been left with wounds that need dressed by a nurse every two days and I was told this week that I will have lasting tissue damage. I still have little flashbacks and I'm anxious whenever I take my dogs out now, I don't want anyone else to go through that experience."

(Belfast Live - Oct 30, 2016)

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