man attacked in dulwich park today II.30am by two men with scary dog

[TeriG]

hi all,

thanks again for your posts and if any of you saw them or the incident, do please get in touch.

Tony, yes, he did call the police - I think he was quite shell shocked for a while... I completely agree, that at least by recording the incident, then the perpetrators are closer to getting caught, as they're clearly a danger to society.

We also contacted the district parks authority who've also been in touch and logged the incident for the park safety records etc.

I didnt mean to "offend" any dog owners; Im an animal lover myself; but have been "jumped on" by a friendly-looking dog before which caused me to get quite shaken up, so always give them a wide berth when out walking/running. The point here was that some areas of the park, esp near the kids playground - dogs should be under control and in some areas there are notices that they should be on a lead. This was one such area, i think.

Hopefully it wont happen again; and yes, the park authorities clarified that there was a police prescence later in the day in the park.

There were many witnesses around, but most probably equally shocked and "none of their business" etc Im hoping that somehow by raising awareness to the park authorities the perpetrators wont get away with that violent behaviour towards anyone.

[pipsky2008]

interesting how diverse people's reactions are to an event like this. Many would be driving around all night with a shotgun in the boot looking for those two guys

[Rianoo]

Hi pipsky,

Quite correct - and Sainsburys are doing 2 for 1 on shotguns at the moment.

Apart from that - I would suspect they will return to the park and people of the forum are now aware so iphones at the ready, not shotguns.

[James Barber]

TeriG,

I'm appalled by what you've described.

After what you and your partner have been through offend anyone you want on the forum! This experience is likely to have longer term repercussions of anger later.

[first mate]

TeriG,

What an awful experience, these men sound horrendous and deserve to be punished. I also hope that their dog is taken from them and put into responsible hands. If they are prepared to beat up a human for absolutely no reason I cannot imagine what they'd be prepared to do to a dog. One can only hope that if they are caught those concerned are severely punished.

From the little description you give it sounds as though the dog got under your feet in an annoying way- and of course this should not happen- but am I correct in thinking the dog did not 'attack' you- it does not sound as though he put his teeth on you, or is this not the case?

Badly trained and owned dogs can jump up at people they do not know, but the motive is not usually aggressive- though I appreciate that bully breeds can look so menacing that any jumping up, friendly or not, can feel scary. Quite simply, owners need to be educated in teaching dogs manners, at all times.

As ever, it is the wretched, stupid and irresponsible humans that are the real cultprits here and it sounds as though it was the humans and not the dog that inflicted injuries on you. Please correct me if this is not the case.

Edited to say it does sound as though these guys were looking for any old excuse to beat someone up...for some idiots random violence can be both a hobby and an outlet.

[roblay]

XxNikkixX Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Because a dog runs up to u does not in any way

> mean its dangerous

Defend the dog all you want but the fact is it ran up to him in the first place and that led to the attack by the 2 men. Dogs, dangerous or not, shouldn't be running up to anybody - they should be on a short lead and under the complete control of the owner. There are signs all over Dulwich Park to that effect but the majority of dog-owners ignore them. I have stopped running there now for that very reason.

[Medley]

roblay Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> XxNikkixX Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Because a dog runs up to u does not in any way

> > mean its dangerous

>

>

> Defend the dog all you want but the fact is it ran

> up to him in the first place and that led to the

> attack by the 2 men. Dogs, dangerous or not,

> shouldn't be running up to anybody - they should

> be on a short lead and under the complete control

> of the owner. There are signs all over Dulwich

> Park to that effect but the majority of dog-owners

> ignore them. I have stopped running there now for

> that very reason.

Totally support that post (the second one I mean).

[Penguin68]

I have seen quite serious accidents caused by dogs (not aggressive or dangerous) running into, tripping, jumping up on or simply startling people. If you are running, a dog running into your path can easily trip you or cause you to stumble. Or you can run into it, kicking it in the process. Old or physically vulnerable people (i.e. with sticks or crutches etc.), children, all are even more at accidental risk from entirely 'friendly' dogs.

Hence the need for dogs to be controlled/ on leads (and long leads with a dog not in control turn straight into trip wires).

[Sayroo]

Teri, what an absolutely ghastly incident. I don't often comment on this forum, but felt compelled to say something given the strength you've shown in the hours following this vile and a completely unprovoked attack. Given the same situation, I don't think many of the readers of this thread would be able to maintain the sound and balanced approach you've maintained while trying to articulate what happened in this entirely reasonable account to simply warn others.

I hope that others like KatsuQueen do speak up, at least to reinforce these descriptions or demonstrate some solidarity and support. I really am sickened to think of how this brief but shocking incident must have cast a shadow over a perfectly pleasant morning in what seems the safest of circumstances. Again, your first post concluded with hoping and praying this wouldn't happen to anyone else. I just hope that raising awareness and contacting the relevant people, including the police, will hopefully ensure it won't.

[TeriG]

Sayroo, thankyou too for your supportive post & to all previous people who've posted support. A number of forum members who were in the park at the time have contacted me privately with info about the perpetrators and Id continue to encourage others too, so that all statements can be collated by the police and parks authorities - they have been very efficient in dealing with it so far.

Hopefully the park will be a safer place once again.

Thanks for your concern.

[XxNikkixX]

Look I agree that what happened is bad but all the evidence placed on the forum does not suggest the dog is dangerous it never attacked the man never bit him never jumped all over him the dog simply ran up to him what happened after is nothing to do with the dog it's the men that attacked the man whilst on his morning jog. I agree that dogs should be kept on leads in public places weather a short lead or a longer lead so dogs can have a run about and owners should control there dogs if they can't they shouldn't have them.

I am only stating that you should never stereotype. Don't judge a dog on the way it looks how would u like to judged on your looks.

It's like saying bigger build men with bald heads are scary and intimidating that would come from watching to much Eastenders ie phill Mitchell so called hard nut

So just because u see a pit bull /bulldog/staff/English bull terrier etc dont class it dangerous because of how it looks to much bad press about them not every dog is the same.

[Jeremy]

Why don't people stop trying to hijack a thread concerning a very vicious assault, with a comparitively trivial issue about stereotyping dogs.

[Jammyman]

Here Here XxNikkixX i agree! !

[Chillaxed]

Here here Jeremy!

[first mate]

This thread should, quite rightly, focus on the awful human on human attack.

The side issue of to what extent dogs should be on leads in the park is for discussion elsewhere. Human agression is the issue here.

[LadyDeliah]

I think the reason people are posting about the dog is that the title gives the impression the dog was also involved in the attack. I thought that when I read it and obviously discovered that not to be the case when I read further.

The OP must have been in shock when she posted so I would imagine the whole group, including the dog was in her mind when she thought about the attack. It might help if she removed the reference to the dog in the title, even just to get her thread back on track, but I think it's understandable that in the aftermath she didn't differentiate between the human assailants and their dog.

[Ole]

From what I have read, the dog running into the victim triggered the attack therefore it is very relevant that the dog be kept in the title.

Brockwell park is a nightmare in the mornings, there are lots of dog walkers about and you there are dogs running about seemingly out of control dogs. I stopped taking my son to this park in the mornings because of this, more than one or twice he has had a dog running towards him and stopping just short of him, if you can imaging being small and having an animal that is roughly your height charging towards you, I'd call it a scary dog regardless of its breed. If I have a dog running towards me I find it scary too regardless of its breed, with animals you just don't know how they are going to react.

[LondonMix]

Agree. Most people understand this. It?s ridiculous that people are getting their backs up over the title instead of focusing on the horrible crime that's taken place.

To the OP: I hope you partner is recovering and that this thread and you reporting the attack to the police ultimately lead to these two violent men being apprehended

[alice]

can't believe i'm doing this

two men attacked someone in a local park - that's bad, criminal in fact

a dog runs into someone running - that's just nothing

dogs are not responsible for behaviour of owner - that's so obvious but is being disputed

[KidKruger]

One thing I don't get here that doesn't seem right.

The dog ran up to a bloke who was jogging, so the owners of the dog approached the bloke and beat him up ?

Or did the dog owners roll-up after words were exchanged ? I'm trying to imagine the silent scenario escalating to a sudden assault.

Assault is not OK at all, but rarely happens with no words exchanged.

[Rianoo]

I agree with Kidkruger - full story please.

[alice]

ooh yes please then we can all see how the attack was justified?

kick my dog

deserve a kicking

[Penguin68]

kick my dog

deserve a kicking

I think, from what the OP wrote, it's actually 'my dog runs into you, deserve a kicking'... The dog may, or may not, have been a causus belli - but it was the thugs who decided to attack a jogger, and who apparently caused his injuries. If the dog was aggressive or poorly trained, then it's his thuggish owners, again, who take responsibilty for that.

It's people, people, all the way here.

[Rianoo]

@Alice

From what I surmise - a dog was tangled in a joggers legs - jogger gets a thick lip. What happened in between ? Apparently it was two 5ft 8" beer bellied, english football top wearing, very aggressive women with a pitball off the lead......men, sorry.....

[Ole]

I hope that the hijacking of this thread by the 'how dare you taint all dogs with the same brush' brigade does not put people off warning others where there have been incidents (doggy or non-doggy related).

Dog or no dog involved, nobody should be assaulted.

Some dogs are scary-looking. Fact of life.