A Newport family are calling for a change in the law after a pensioner’s dog was savagely attacked and killed by a bullmastiff at the weekend.
The incident took place at around 09:20 on Saturday morning on the front doorstep of an 83-year-old woman’s home on Pan Estate in Newport.
Tragically, Sandie, a small terrier that was rescued at just 6 weeks old some 14 years ago, was unexpectedly set upon by the free-roaming Mastiff. Her owner had no chance of protecting her and sadly Sandie died from the injuries sustained.
The incident was reported to Police but the attacking dog’s owners have not been investigated and the animal is still able to roam. At the time of the attack it had escaped without the owner’s knowledge, something it did the following day too.
Speaking about the shocking incident, Zoe French, the granddaughter of the affected woman, has said:
“Sandie has been my nan’s best friend and reason to get out of bed for the past 14 years. My nan has been left devastated, traumatised and alone, with a hefty vet bill.
“We have not once been assisted or helped by a member of the police force as there is no law allowing them to assist. This has to change. We want some change in laws around dog-on-dog attacks. Not just for Sandie but for past and future dogs. Our animals deserve justice too.
“There should be something the law can do in prosecuting the owner of a dangerous dog, or so police can investigate dangerous dog reports more seriously and not waiting for it to be a dog-on-child attack”.
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Over 350 people have already signed a petition calling for a change in the law. You can view the Change.org petition at https://www.change.org/p/allow-police-to-be-able-to-act-on-dog-on-dog-attacks.
So the Police are allowing a dangerous dog to roam the streets, maybe it will kill a child next, so much for our Police force. Farmers have the right to shoot dangerous dogs. Would the Police like to make a comment?
Very sad.
So many idiots do not put their dogs on a lead.
£1,000.00 fines for idiots who do not keep their dogs on a lead.
I always keep my dog on a lead unless in a park
Many of the Dog Owners need keeping on a lead, so many of them lack brains.
How very sad and upsetting for owner and to witness it taking place and not be able to do anything. What the hell do we pay police for? This is clearly a crime due to a dangerous dog not only roaming street but it has attacked and killed. This could of been a young child then they would investigate. If Sandie had been attacked by a human -they would be investigating. Where are the RSPCA ?.
A terrible thing to happen to a lovely little dog and her owner must be devastated, the mastiff should of been on a lead with its ignorant owner,Can some kind person set up a go fund me page to help this lady with her vets bill ?
Reading the article sadly the pensioners dog did not survive.
Disgusting attitude from the rozzers
What, is there really nothing the police can’t do? Or is it really that the police don’t want to do anything. Is it not a criminal offence having a dog in a public place out of control? Maybe a bent copper protecting the owner?
I just read the Blue cross website. They state “Allowing your dog to be ‘dangerously out of control’ is against the law on private property, as well as in public.”
The police can prosecute! But choose not to. No new laws needed, just the current ones enforced!
It’s absolutely disgusting that the police can’t be bothered to investigate the attack on this poor little rescue dog. Sandie meant the World to her owner. The arrogant twat who ‘owns’ the other poor, misguided dog needs to be prosecuted & publicly shamed.
Dear Zoe. So sorry to hear of your poor Nan’s loss. What a horrible situation and I can’t believe nothing has been investigated or action taken. Just so sad. The dog that attacked sounds vile. As you rightly state – had it been a child involved then more action might have been taken. Let’s hope it doesn’t have to get to that situation before action IS taken. Love to you all x
Let’s hope that mastif gets run over, eh:)
Or shot by a farmer
OMG! This attack is utterly unbelievable. It must have been horrific for the poor owner of little Sandie. The owners who own this Mastiff must be more responsible. It’s a big , powerful dog and you MUST make sure it is kept securely on your property. Poor little dog. Such a shame. I would be utterly devastated and SO angry. Keep your dog locked up whoever you are. Your dog has taken an innocent little dog’s life FFS.
Why do the police want more money, yet do less and less to the outside observer.
I have no faith in our police anymore.
This makes me so angry! I can’t imagine how Sandie’s owner and family must be feeling! I’m sorry for your loss and something needs to be done! This can’t happen!
Of course the police can investigate so sadly, even though we have supposedly had an increase in recruitment, this crime – and yes it is a crime – does not warrant a police investigation. Disgusting. However, it is not the dogs fault. It has obviously been brought up to act as a feral dog by a feral and uncaring owner and sadly now the only recourse is to have it put down humanely. The owner should be banned from keeping any animal for life and have a huge fine taken from their wages/benefits at source. Please, please, dog owners take responsibility for your dog’s and keep them on a lead at all times in public places.
Police to busy ?
I once phoned and said I think there is a burglar downstairs and was told we will get someone round as soon as we can but we are very busy at the moment it may be later today or tomorrow morning was the response I got
So I phoned them back a few minutes later and said don,t send anyone I have shot him.
A short time later there was 2 armed response vehicles outside and a helicopter overhead
when the police entered my house to investigate
they said you said you had shot him
I said and you said you were busy
Seems the only way to get a police response is glue yourself to the road or tell them you have a gun or knife
Bless the poor lady and little dog.A huge brindle mastiff tried to attack my thigh whilst checking on a table at the pub where I worked several years ago,he had a muzzle on luckily but I was very traumatised by this incident. I took my daughter to Appley a week later on a busy summer afternoon said dog was loose on the beach with NO MUZZLE and with the same woman that had brought it into our beer garden.I find it unfathomable that these people blatantly have no concern about their animals behavior.
So sorry for this lady, a dog is a big part of your life .
A responsible owner should always know where their dog is !
,and the garden should be secure …..
For the dog to escape the day after is terrible …..
The owner’s need to take full responsibility and pay for the ladies vet bill’s ….
Could be a child next! If this bloody dog attacked a child it would make the news ‘big time’. Too little too late.
We need a system in the UK as they have in some European countries. If a dog is known to be vicious towards people or other animals, it has to wear a RED WARNING COLLAR, be kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when out in public. This country is too bloody slow to make new sensible rules to protect the public and to protect innocent animals from being attacked.
The owners must be made accountable and this must NEVER happen again.
Obviously the roaming dangerous dog must kill a human being before the owners are taken to task. My sympathy is for the poor pensioner who probably lived for his/her dog, if anything should happen to that person then the owner of the dog should be done for manslaughter. Absolutely disgusted with the police response, and with law and order – no wonder this world is heading in one direction.