New Zealand: Trainee bomb detector puppy shot dead at airport because they were tired of chasing it

NEW ZEALAND -- New Zealand police have shot dead a trainee bomb detector puppy that was running amok at Auckland Airport Friday, drawing condemnation from animal rights activists.

The ten-month-old bearded collie mix named Grizz was training to be an Aviation Security Explosion Detector when he escaped handlers who spent hours trying to coax him away from the runway.

Sixteen flights were delayed before airport staff told police to shoot him -- Grizz was just six months from graduation.

SAFE for Animals Ambassador Hans Kriek condemned the killing, asking why the animal wasn't tranquilized, but a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said he "didn't believe" that had been an option.

Auckland Airport originally announced on their official Twitter they had captured the dog, before revealing an hour later that he had been killed.

Grizz escaped from his handler at around 4.30 a.m. local time and ran out onto the tarmac at Auckland Airport, according to the CAA spokesman.

"He was on an initial airport environment socialization program as part of his training ... The airport Emergency Operations Center was activated and a full search was commenced," he said in a statement.

But the spokesman said it was too dark and the area too large to quickly find and contain the puppy.

"We tried everything, food, toys, other dogs, but nothing would work ... In these difficult circumstances the Airport's Emergency Operations Center team decided to have the dog destroyed," he said.

The spokesman said there would be a review into the incident.

The phrase "Auckland Airport" was trending on New Zealand Twitter on Friday, with many users venting their fury at the airport's authorities.

"Embarrassed to be a kiwi today," one poster wrote. "Killing a dog so flights can continue (at) Auckland Airport. No excuse! Disgusting."

Kriek said he believed it was the wrong decision to shoot Grizz, saying given staff were chasing Grizz for three hours there was time to get a tranquilizer gun.

"Ultimately they have to call the police in to shoot the dog, and the police have access to tranquilizer guns, and there's also a zoo nearby that would have one as well. So we don't understand why they didn't do that," he said.

The Authority spokesman said the question of a tranquilizer gun would be reviewed.

(Fox61 - March 17, 2017)

United Kingdom: Bearded Collie named Enzo has to get multiple surgeries after being attacked by pit bull

UNITED KINGDOM -- Nightmare dog walk this morning at Eatock Lodge as Enzo was attacked by a black staffie (staffordshire pit bull terrier) called Tyson ????! It was terrifying, had his jaw on him for a least 5 mins !

Thankfully a fellow dog walker kicked it in the head and eventually released his jaw!

Thank goodness for Enzo's thick coat as he seems okay just quiet. All the staffie got was a mouthful of fur ! It would have totally different with a dog with a short coat ????! All the irresponsible owner could say that dogs should be on a lead ??????!

UPDATE 1
Poor Enzo after the staffie attack at Eatock ??????, has a large wound and has to have an operation on Monday ?? — at Westhoughton Park.

Angie Sykes-Crookell: Wound got infected again ?? and couldn't clean without anathestic and infected ! Could kill that staffie !!!! 1200 pounds (nearly $2,000 US dollars) later but just want Enzo better ?

UPDATE 2
Enzo relaxing ????????after his second operation

Addy Dawes: OMG.... that Staffie owner should be paying for this! He's the one that should be feeling the pain. So sorry for Enzo, but I love his inflatable (?) collar!

Ann Higgins: Aww poor soul hope he is better soon

Note: Over the years, people have tried to make cutsie baby names out of pit bulls. They refer to them as pitties, pibbles and Staffordshire Pit Bull Terriers as staffies, to try to make us forget that they're pit bulls.

 

 

 

 

Enzo, before the attack

Owner banned from keeping animals after leaving dog suffering for three months

UNITED KINGDOM -- The owner of a dog which was left suffering for three months from a chronic skin disease which caused its paws to swell up and bleed, has been banned from owning any animals for five years.

Paul Edwards, of Pilton Close, Rectory Farm, Northampton, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Rocky, a five-year-old bearded collie by failing to provide any veterinary treatment.

Northampton Magistrates’ Court heard on Monday that RSPCA inspector, Polly Underwood, went to Edwards’ house on April 3.

Kevin McCole, prosecuting for the RSPCA, said Ms Underwood detected a “putrid” smell before she even saw the dog in the kitchen.

Mr McCole said: “All four of the dog’s feet were red raw 
and swollen.  There were evident scabs underneath his chin and lower limbs.  There was yellowing and signs of bleeding on all four of its legs.”

Mr McCole said the RSPCA inspector noticed the animal was struggling to walk and a large amount of blood was pouring from its feet as it moved.

Rocky was examined by a vet and was found to be suffering from a chronic skin condition and was severely underweight. The dog was also suffering from a flea infestation.

The dog was given treatment for a skin infection and responded well.

But sadly, Rocky was found to be suffering from cancer and later had to be put down.

Mr McCole said the vet who treated Rocky said the dog was caused unnecessary suffering as a result of the failure to get treatment for the skin condition.

During an interview with the RSPCA, Edwards, an unemployed father-of-four, said he had not taken
Rocky to a vet as he was worried about the cost of treatment for the animal.

Edwards must complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £60.

(Northampton Chronicle - Nov 2, 2013)

Grandfather furious at lack of police action over dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- A grandfather is “full of fury” after the police took no action following a savage dog-on-dog attack in Maldon.
  
Michael Taylor of Mirosa Drive, Maldon, believes a child could have died if it had been attacked in the same way his gentle bearded collie cross Lottie was.
  

Mr Taylor had been walking Lottie, nine, on a lead in Mirosa Drive, and as he approached the junction with Beaumont Way when the attack happened at 10.30pm on May 26, resulting in a vet bill of nearly £900.

Following an enquiry by the Standard, an Essex Police spokesman issued an appeal for anyone with any information about the attack to call police in Maldon on 101.

(maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk - June 11, 2013)

Texas cheerleaders rescue small dog from attack

TEXAS -- The night of Aug. 8 was one of the longest of Stacy Yarbrough's life.

The east Plano resident spent the night tossing and turning, hoping that her dog Olive would make it through the night after being viciously attacked at Bob Woodruff Park. Olive, all 7 pounds of her, eventually pulled through, although she now walks with a slight limp.

On Wednesday, Olive was reunited with her rescuers -- five members of the Plano East cheerleading squad. At the reunion, Olive was made an honorary member of the East cheerleading team, and even posed for a photo atop the team's pyramid.

"The park was full of people, including a lot of adults, and the only people brave enough to step in were these girls," Yarbrough said. "We are full of team spirit right now. My neighbor makes pet clothing and we had to have a cheerleading outfit made for Olive."

The East cheerleaders were at the park for a team bonding picnic prior to cheerleading camp. When the team heard a woman screaming, they knew they had to help, team member Mackenzie Frazier said.

"We saw that there was a dog [attack] and attempted to break it up by pulling the larger dog off of Olive," Frazier said. "He ended up getting loose again and kept attacking, but we were able to finally hold down the larger dog so other people could grab the other dogs."

Cheerleader Demmye Xeros said an older woman owned the larger dog, a Bearded Collie. When the attack occurred, the older woman attempted to pull her dog off of Olive, but was unable to do so, Xeros said.

Yarbrough, who was at the park with her three dogs, said the larger dog came right for Olive, slipping its harness and then going in for the attack. She added that there is no doubt in her mind that the dog wouldn't have stopped unless the cheerleaders stepped in.

"The attacking dog weighed 40 pounds, more than all three of my dogs combined," she said. "I was stomping and kicking him, trying to pry his jaws open. We could not get him to stop. All of the sudden I remember seeing all of these feet when the girls came up and saved us. ... His mission was to kill all three of them. I am just so thankful none of the girls got hurt."

(planostar.com - October 3, 2012)

Bearded Collie and elderly owner attacked while on walk

UNITED KINGDOM -- A Wimblington family have issued a heartfelt plea after their dog was savagely attacked while out on a walk.

The incident happened just before Christmas when Peter Heaney was walking his Bearded Collie -cross "Flynn" in Blue Lane.

Stitches on Flynn

A Staffie-type dog [Staffordshire Terrer aka Pit Bull] running lose ran over to Flynn knocking him into a ditch before jumping on top of him and brutally biting him.

Peter’s distressed daughter Lisa Heaney explained the attack was so ferocious one of the bites went so deep it chipped Flynn’s skull.

She said her father who is in his 70s managed to climb into the ditch and pull the attacking dog off his pet, but by then Flynn had suffered not only severe injuries to his ear, head and throat but was also badly traumatised.

“Fortunately dad is quite fit and agile and was quick thinking enough to go to Flynn’s rescue. Flynn is a well trained dog and follows commands to sit and wait, which is what dad had told him to do when he saw the Staffie running off the lead.

“The two men who were walking him didn’t appear to take much notice of what was happening and didn’t even come over and ask how Flynn was,” said Lisa.

She said Flynn has already had to undergo one operation and could face another one if the injury to his head doesn’t heal.

“It is not about the vet bill. It would mean more to us if the owners of the dog recognised their dog has a problem with other dogs and keep it on a lead when they take it for a walk. We would hate for another dog to go through what Flynn has suffered.

“If your dog is anti-social with other dogs then it is sensible to keep it under control, it is not difficult to keep it on the lead and we would appeal to people to do that,” added Lisa.

(Fenland Citizen - Jan 15, 2012)