United Kingdom: Grown man falls to his knees crying after his beloved dog is mauled to death by a banned breed right in front of him

UNITED KINGDOM -- A dog owner fell to his knees in tears as his small Bichon Frise was mauled to death by a larger dog right in front of his eyes.

Houssine Jarram, 52, said the banned-breed dog took his five-year-old pooch in its jaws and shook it in a “savage” attack that was “over in seconds.”

Mr Jarram described how he couldn’t sleep after watching the “nightmare” unfold in front of him as he walked the family pet, named Leo, in Brixton last month.

He said he had yet to pluck the courage to tell his young daughters, aged 15, 16 and 21, after the fatal attack on Roupell Road on Friday, April 7.

He told the Standard: “I fell to the floor and started crying. I couldn’t believe what was happening right in front of my eyes. It was all over so fast.

“For a long time I was in total shock, and that night I didn’t get much sleep. I haven’t even told my young daughters, they will be completely devastated when they find out.

“Leo became like a son to me. We had him for five years, since he was born, and then to watch a big dog just pick him up and kill him so quickly. It was a real-life nightmare.”

WHY CALL IT A 'BANNED BREED 'WHEN YOU CAN HAND OUT EXEMPTIONS AND LET PEOPLE OWN THEM ANYWAY?

Police said the dog that killed his well-loved pet is a banned breed that can only be owned with restrictions.

There are four banned breeds: Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro.

But the police say there are exceptions.

If someone says they have a banned breed (or mix of one) and they claim the dog isn't vicious, they can try to obtain an 'exemption', which is a court procedure that will allow owners to keep the banned breed dog.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: “The dog which carried out the attack was subsequently seized under section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act. We are in contact with the owners of the deceased dog. No arrests have been made at this stage, and inquiries continue.”

(Evening Standard - ‎May 19, 2017)