Pet dog left fighting for life after attack in Blackburn (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Pet dog left fighting for life after attack in Blackburn
1:00pm Saturday 8th December 2012 in Blackburn
A BELOVED pet dog has been left fighting for its life after being savaged by a Japanese akita.
The four-year-old Yorkshire terrier, called Ellie, was left bleeding heavily from eight wounds on her neck and body following the attack.
Harley Widdowson, 14, was walking the dog for her ill grandmother Grace, on a grass verge near Mulberry Walk around 5pm on Thursday when the akita, which was not on a lead, charged at them.
Harley suffered a bite on her hand while trying to rescue Ellie and received a tetanus jab and bandages at Blackburn Royal Hospital.
Mrs Widdowson, 52, said: “Its’ owner couldn’t control his dog and was shouting at Harley ‘pick up your... dog’ while his akita was mauling Ellie.
“Harley picked her up and ran back to the house.
“When they got back there was blood all over the hallway, it was horrific. I was in shock.”
The family rushed their pet to Town and Country Vets in King Street, in Blackburn, where she underwent a two-and-a-half hour operation and received 40 stitches.
Ellie was visibly traumatised after the incident and operation, whimpering and cowering in the family home.
Mrs Widdowson said: “I’ve not slept, I laid on the floor with Ellie all night, I couldn’t leave her alone as she was, she’s my baby.
“I think the akita should be kept on a lead and muzzled.
“It isn’t the first time the dog owner has been involved in incidents like this, he is quite notorious on our road, but this is the worst time.
“I’m scared this might happen to someone else’s pet and they might not be so lucky.
“If Ellie hadn’t have rescued her and the vet couldn’t have seen to her, it could have been so much worse.”
Lancashire Constabulary interviewed Harley yesterday (Friday) and have passed the incident on to Blackburn with Darwen Council’s dog warden to investigate.
Comments(21)
retired one
says...
3:57pm Sat 8 Dec 12
I had a similar incident happen to my Yorkshire Terrier a few months ago when a Staffie out without a lead, lunged at my dog and pinned her to the ground. Luckily I managed to rescue her before any damage was done. Needless to say the owner wasn't bothered. I reported it to the police and the owner was only given a warning.
I hope that Ellie and Harley soon recover from this incident.
Mothernature
says...
5:47pm Sat 8 Dec 12
billy32
says...
6:34pm Sat 8 Dec 12
julespent
says...
11:19pm Sat 8 Dec 12
2 for 5p
says...
2:52am Sun 9 Dec 12
Owners should get a £500 fine for first offence 3 times and the dog should be put down.
germanshep123
says...
2:45pm Sun 9 Dec 12
N4you!
says...
4:04pm Sun 9 Dec 12
Mothernature wrote:Is this experience?
A useful item to carry is a lighter. If you are attacked by a dog, a quick burst of flame NEAR, not on, to the face or nose is usually enough to scare it off.
lostforwords
says...
6:19pm Sun 9 Dec 12
Mothernature
says...
6:36pm Sun 9 Dec 12
N4you! wrote:Yes it is. I've spent many years rescueing animals and have picked up quite a few handy tips along the way.
Mothernature wrote: A useful item to carry is a lighter. If you are attacked by a dog, a quick burst of flame NEAR, not on, to the face or nose is usually enough to scare it off.Is this experience?
turd moor
says...
6:46pm Sun 9 Dec 12
Malthus
says...
9:34pm Sun 9 Dec 12
germanshep123 wrote:I think it is the Japanese Tosa that is regulated under the 1991 Dangerous Dogs Act. Although this should not detract from the fact that the animal in question is dangerous and should be treated as a Police matter.
I thought Japanese Akitas were a banned breed under the dangerous dogs act?
Return of the Magnificent se7en
says...
9:48pm Sun 9 Dec 12
Mothernature wrote:Taser would be better
A useful item to carry is a lighter. If you are attacked by a dog, a quick burst of flame NEAR, not on, to the face or nose is usually enough to scare it off.
pocketdragon
says...
9:49pm Sun 9 Dec 12
However I don't think it would have come off as lightly had it tried to attack my dogs...id have let them rip it to pieces and then let the akitas owner look for a new pet....
Ronnietate
says...
2:16am Mon 10 Dec 12
Had this Japenese Akita attacked your dogs and as you suggest you "let them rip it to pieces" it would have been the same story repeated again. Loving pet ripped to pieces. You see it is your attitude that helps create these problems in the first place. When an owner of what ever breed of dog has to use the status of their dog as a prop for their own lack of self esteem!
Dougalbug
says...
12:50pm Mon 10 Dec 12
lancs1985
says...
2:38pm Mon 10 Dec 12
2 for 5p wrote:that comments matchs your name absolrutley stupid,
All dogs should be muzzled in public
Owners should get a £500 fine for first offence 3 times and the dog should be put down.
dogs are down to there owners, this pillock aint fit to have a gold fish
lancs1985
says...
2:40pm Mon 10 Dec 12
the dog should not be off the lead, the empty head of an owner is giving he dog a bad name, why not take it out later on at night!!
as for biting the child its out of order n the owner should get sent away,
i wouldnt allow this clown to have a gold fish never mind a dog!!!!
once a dog goes it goes like any human what loses it rag,
the dog should of been socialised from a pub
owners like this what get dogs bad names
shoot the owner train the dog
mys
says...
4:34pm Mon 10 Dec 12
pocketdragon
says...
6:07pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Ronnietate wrote:Haha! You have taken my comment out of context. My dogs are always on a lead and are highly trained. The akita was not on a lead nor under any sort of control.
To pocketdragon.
Had this Japenese Akita attacked your dogs and as you suggest you "let them rip it to pieces" it would have been the same story repeated again. Loving pet ripped to pieces. You see it is your attitude that helps create these problems in the first place. When an owner of what ever breed of dog has to use the status of their dog as a prop for their own lack of self esteem!
Had my child been bitten i can assure you i would have no problem in letting my dogs protect my child....and if they are approached by a dog not under any control then really it is the owners fault should anything happen.
Akitas are working dogs. They require a great deal of training, if not they should be kept on a lead under firm control.
I hope the child is ok as is the yorkie. And i hope the owner has paid the vet bill and apologised.
showmethefacts?
says...
2:24pm Fri 21 Dec 12
Mothernature wrote:Police incompetance
Why has this been passed on to the dog warden? Not only was the Akita prepared to kill the yorkshire terrier, it bit the child and was out without a lead and muzzle. This should be a police matter, not a dog warden. Disgraceful. I hope the yorkie & Harley recover quickly.
It should not be passed to "dog warden"
It falls under Section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
Section 3 creates a criminal offence of allowing any dog (i.e. of any breed or type) to be
dangerously out of control in a public place or a place to where it is not allowed. A dog can be
regarded as being dangerously out of control on any occasion where it causes fear or
apprehension to a person2 that it may injure them. Furthermore, if that dog does injure a person
then the offence is aggravated. Legal action may be taken against the owner and/or the person in
charge of the dog at the time.
and if they are incapable of utilizing that legislation due to laziness or incompetence they could use the;
-Metropolitan Police Act 1839 and Town Police Clauses Act 1847
-Offences Against the Person Act 1861
Mothernature says...
3:43pm Sat 8 Dec 12