vicious dogs

Thu 20 Jan 2011, 18:41

As Adrienne reports the dogs and owners have been identified so what in law happens now? Would the RSPCA like to know about these owners as I believe they have certain powers or is that incorrect? I walk with my kids quite often in the woodland and would not want to fight off an attack by two dogs on my younger child and know of in the past of incidents like this that have happened to people I know and which led in part to the passing of the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991 as Lambeth where I was then resident had quite a fashion amongst the boyz from the hood for the meanest breeds one could get to prove ones virility...

Tue 18 Jan 2011, 18:56

If anyone would like to report further information please contact Wesley Smith of Thames Valley Police, 08458 505 505

Mon 17 Jan 2011, 09:18

The incident has been reported to the police. Thanks to the Charlbury forum many people have been in contact and the owners and breed of dogs have been identified. Unfortunately there have been other incidents prior.

Thu 13 Jan 2011, 09:58

You've clearly had a very traumatic experience, and it must have been horrible. But a crime has been committed, so please do report it to the police. If enough people report vicious dog attacks to the police, they are obliged to take action. Even though you couldn't identify the breed, could you give a description of the size, colour of the animals and their owner? It's great that you've raised this debate, and you have all our sympathies, but please consider talking to the authorities about it - it's not too late.

Tue 11 Jan 2011, 15:49

There is nothing curious about it - with out the owner's name, address or breed of dog there was little that the police could do and even with all that a person has to actually be bitten. Hence these postings - to gain the necessary information, to forewarn those who may not be able to defend themselves or their dogs and fundamentally motivated by the fact that the incidents occurred in such close proximity to where children play and also elderly people walk.

Sun 9 Jan 2011, 14:48

This is an alarming set of postings, children play near the skateboard park, and cannot defend themselves in the same way the adults describe here - this and the previous thread describes 'horror', 'terrible sounds' and so on. The police have now been informed but it would help if Charlbury residents actually took this up if it is repeated, why the readers of the postings have not initially phoned the police in the first place seems curious.

Fri 7 Jan 2011, 22:54

Adrienne, as others have said here, this problem must be reported to the police. It is not enough for you to 'bring this to the public for discussion'. You have brought this to the attention of the community through this web site and now you must report it to the police - even though you are unable to identify the owners(s) of the dogs. Please don't delay. Do it and do it now.

Mon 3 Jan 2011, 13:50

Thanks again for your posts and responses. Emily - this was my thought exactly. Kids walk their dogs there and many elderly people walk their dogs there too. I have never been in a situation like it before and really reacted out of instinct to protect my dogs. As you say Malcom, once such dogs get a taste for victory they become more predatory. What was alarming about the attack was the fact that they were acting as a hunting pack. The situation did not arise as these dogs passed my dogs. The two dogs 'spotted' my elderly dog and ran for him from some distance in full attack mode; one going at his neck and the other trying to take out his back legs. As I got them off one came at me and only by acting loud and 'charging' at it did it retreat.

Until the owner can be identified Im not sure what to report. I completely agree that this should be reported, hence making this public through the forum in hope that someone may come forward. I had hoped it was an isolated incident but seeing the owner again, same spot, dogs running wild is extremely alarming. The dogs should be muzzled and on leads. The female owner seems to think otherwise.

I can not stress enough how bad this situation was and how potentially worse it could have been.
If any one can help to make some sort of identification please come forward.

Sun 2 Jan 2011, 22:49

This issue arose recently on another threat: forum.charlbury.info/cgi-bin/dview.cgi?thread=1204

Has no one reported the owners? The police cannot act if they are not told, and those who are remaining silent might have some regrets if the next attack is on a human and is fatal. Full details for reporting are on the other thread.

Sun 2 Jan 2011, 21:41

I reiterate that I am sure this falls under the 1991 dangerous dogs act and amendments if not simple assault as well. See if Wesley will come out with you some mornings dressed in civvies to help identify - buy bullies might choose single women on purpose so that might not work. Or take pictures of the owners and give them to the police (and the website). If they take the phone or camera off you then that is assault and probably theft and then the police will have more than enough grounds to find and prosecute the owners. As Emily said it is a child next time and dogs once they get the taste of victory will hunt out other rewarding prey higher up the pack status hierarchy and humans are at the top. Its scary but the only way to deal with this sort of person is to get tough - and I have done so in the past. It works.

Sun 2 Jan 2011, 19:26

That's absolutely awful and very worrying as I walk my dog around that area. I would definitely suggest reporting the dogs and especially their owners to the Police because next time it could be an elderly person walking their dog or even a child. If this has happened to you, it has probably happened to others and the Police may be aware already.

Thu 30 Dec 2010, 11:56

Thank you for your support and for taking the time to post your comments which I greatly appreciate. I believe the situation to be serious enough to discuss publicly and although I hope no one else has had a 'run in' with the owner and her dogs, if they have I urge them to comment. I have no way of identifying the owner/ owners so now can only practice avoidance which saddens me as that walk was an integral & peaceful part of our day.

My dog is now experiencing a fear of all other dogs so if any one has any advise on re-socialising that would also be greatly appreciated.

Thu 30 Dec 2010, 00:17

Surely if you can can identify the owners and report to the Police there is the 1991 Dsngerous Dogs Act to fall back upon. Having had a lot of experience with dangerous dogs deliberately attacking people and other dogs contact me off list. Be warned, the solutions are pretty brutal but highly effective (experience gained with hunting pack dogs in rural areas and also with attack dogs in inner city London areas while a local politician and community activist and I don't talk Bull ordure - these work).

Wed 29 Dec 2010, 21:30

There is no doubt certain breeds of dog can be classified as dangerous, although in most cases it's the owners that should also be classified!!
Surely if you know your dog is liable to attack other dogs or even people, you should be responsible enough to keep them on a strong lead.

Wed 29 Dec 2010, 18:12

Two weeks ago one of my dogs was viciously attacked by two large matted dogs, one black, one brown in the woodland area behind the skate board park. I think they may be new foundlands but I am not sure. I am posting this because the dogs were vicious, off their leads where children play and walk their dogs, the attack was completely unprovoked and the owner stood and watched. I was able to pull one of them off my dog and then had to shout and charge at them as they then came at me. The situation would have been much worse if I had not been able to intervene. My dogs are completely passive Golden Retrievers who socialise with other dogs. The two dogs that attacked spotted my elderly dog and ran straight for him. The black one had him by the neck and the brown one was trying to take out his back legs.

My husband and I returned to the area for the first time a few days ago and we heard a terrible sound of dogs fighting from somewhere in the woods then to our horror the same dogs were off their leads again in the same area and as they ran at us we had to scream for the owner to get them away and put them on leads.

After 5 years of walking my dogs in this area I feel that it is no longer safe and I worry about other people's & children's safety and other dogs. In the past I have seen the owner (female) tie these dogs to a tree because they were so out of control so I can not believe that they were off their leads in the first place, the location of where they were off and the fact that now the owner seems to have no regard for others and continues to let these volatile dogs attack.

I hope this post prevents anyone else's dog being attacked or a worse situation arising. I just don't know what to do and any advise or any comments that may shed some light on this would be greatly appreciated.