Attack leaves dog owner scared to go out (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Attack leaves dog owner scared to go out

10:39am Monday 23rd November 2009

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A DOG owner has hit out after her Border Collie was savaged while out walking near Winchester.

Jane Gilbert watched in horror as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier locked its jaws onto the shoulder of her 10-year-old pet.

The attack at Farley Mount Country Park west of Winchester left her dog, Jack, with a four-inch gash that required 11 stitches.

Mrs Gilbert, of Rances Way, Badger Farm, was hit with a £150 vets bill and the ordeal has left her scared to go out again with her dog.

"I have always walked my dog by myself and I have never been particularly worried," she said. "But now I'm thinking where can I walk my dog? There's no way I'd take him back to Farley Mount."

She said the incident happened near Hawthorn car park when she spotted a man - described as in his 50s with short, peppercorn grey hair - coming over the crest of a hill with the terrier.

"The terrier saw Jack from the crest of hill and ran straight for him, jumped on his back and tried to bite the back of his neck," she said. "Jack tried to shake him off a couple of times but the terrier then sank his teeth in. Hearing a dog scream is not much fun."

The man managed to pull the dog of the Border Collie before Mrs Gilbert berated him for not having the terrier on a lead or muzzled. He gave her a mobile phone number, which she later discovered was false.

Mrs Gilbert said: "I think somebody might know a dog or a chap called Hogan and call the police because the dog should really be muzzled."

"When he was young I took time and effort to train my dog," she added. "There is no excuse for badly-trained dogs and aggressive dogs should be muzzled and on the lead."

Bill Williamson, assistant animal officer at Winchester City Council, said such attacks "were not uncommon", with around four or five incidents reported each year.

"To be honest there's little advice I can give because these things happen spontaneously," he said. "I would say just keep dogs under control.

"Staffordshire Bull Terriers as a breed are not intrinsically dangerous or even potentially dangerous," he added. "Any dog has the potential to be dangerous if they are not trained properly.

"In these situations if we can track the owners of the dog we will attend and offer them advice on how to control their dogs."

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