Dangerous dog on Peckham Rye

[LegalEagle-ish]

Most bull breed puppies are really cute, friendly and waggy, so maybe most of the people who get them get them because they are cute, friendly and waggy, not because they think they might become aggressive. I love dogs, and am getting sick of the dog hating vocal minority who make bull breed owners scared to let their dog sniff and socialise with other dogs because of the hysterical reactions they get.

I have a bull breed dog who was attacked by a huge pitbull in Dulwich park when he was about 11 months old but he has not become aggressive and is fine with other dogs, cats, chickens, donkeys, children and adults. He always wants to chase squirrels and foxes, but bloody hell, he's a dog. That's what dogs do.

Saying all of that, I think the owner of the dog who attacked Woody needs to get it castrated and get some dog training lessons or something (and obviously to cough up for vet fees etc). That would be a better option than a witch hunt or dog control order.

[bonniebird]

I have to say, if my dog was aggressive to other dogs, I would have my dog muzzled and on lead for its own protection and that of other dogs, I would be so worried for my dogs safety and that it could be PTS for biting etc :( I would do anything to keep it and other dogs safe.

I have seen your boy LeagleEagle ish, very handsome indeed:))

[LegalEagle-ish]

Thanks BB :))

[bjehebblethwaite]

Emily,

Zuko, Woody's puppy classmate sends Woody tons of get well licks.

So sorry to read about this. We will definitely be on the look out.

Best wishes.

[BQC]

Such a sad story. Lets work together & get this guy/dog off the streets & out of our park. (tu)

[Justme]

I may possibly know who you are talking about. I am aware of a possible boxer that is white and grey-ish called Monty that is normally walked by an older gentlemen. I will keep a look out. I am yet to see the dogs 'nasty' site as it has always been rather pleasant with me and my Yorkshire Terrier, but will now be keeping my distance!

Rebecca

[emilydrab]

Woody had a big operation today and it went really well. The specialist vet thinks she's been able to fix the bones without putting a plate in the joint - which means that if all goes well and Woody recovers nicely he should get full use of his leg back. He's going to need a lot of care and love, crating and later possibly lots of swimming to get through it xxxx thanks for all your kind words and messages. I'll keep everyone posted on what the Safer NEighbourhood team and Met come up with - they've been really interested and good so far. xxxx

[first mate]

Emily,

Great news. I'm so glad that Woody is on the slow road to recovery. We must not forget that all of this will be costing you a small fortune in vets bills- I believe we are probably talking thousands?

There is a great hydrotherapy place in the Battersea area called hydro vet. They are a also vet practice, really know their stuff and look after you and your dog well.

I look forward to your feedback from the SNT and the MET.

[bonniebird]

Hi Emily,

WTG Woody:)) I'm so pleased that his op went well, please do keep us up to date on his recovery, bless him. Like firstmate, I am also interested in the feedback from the SNT and the MET, don't let it lie, be persistant with them, the law needs to be changed on dog on dog attacks. Good luck Woody x x x

[cassidy]

LegalEagle-ish Wrote:

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

> Most bull breed puppies are really cute, friendly

> and waggy, so maybe most of the people who get

> them get them because they are cute, friendly and

> waggy, not because they think they might become

> aggressive. I love dogs, and am getting sick of

> the dog hating vocal minority who make bull breed

> owners scared to let their dog sniff and socialise

> with other dogs because of the hysterical

> reactions they get.

>

> I have a bull breed dog who was attacked by a huge

> pitbull in Dulwich park when he was about 11

> months old but he has not become aggressive and is

> fine with other dogs, cats, chickens, donkeys,

> children and adults. He always wants to chase

> squirrels and foxes, but bloody hell, he's a dog.

> That's what dogs do.

>

> Saying all of that, I think the owner of the dog

> who attacked Woody needs to get it castrated and

> get some dog training lessons or something (and

> obviously to cough up for vet fees etc). That

> would be a better option than a witch hunt or dog

> control order.

Well said LegalEagle-ish, its the deed not the breed

[PeckhamRose]

Dangerous dogs sold in pubs in London, and discussing the fact some have to be put down.

[first mate]

Peckham Rose,

It is awful isn't it. Particularly when you consider that Staffs and Pitbulls have been bred to be incredibly friendly to people (though not other dogs). To be used as a "weapon" against other people these dogs would have to be seriously abused and maltreated from puppyhood to make them turn against people.

[puzzled]

so many people keep referring to pit bulls. the dogs in question are staffs and in the one case, an american bull. pit bulls are an illegal breed, totally banned and very rarely seen. as a regular dog walker, I have never seen one round here. if I ever do, I will call the cops and the council straight away. there is a very vocal anti-dog lobby and we really don't need to feed their hostility with tales of "devil dogs".

[SteveT]

Puzzled wrote:- there is a very vocal anti-dog lobby and we really don't need to feed their hostility with tales of "devil dogs".

You really think the anti-dog lobby need a 'devil dog' title to get vocal?

This place is littered with idiots and their dangerous 'pets'.

[cate]

There are quite a few pit crosses out there and alot come from Ireland. Wandsworth Council is coming down on irresponsible dog owners now. Think they require all their tenants to microchip their dogs and I believe they have to pass some sort of test before they are allowed to have dogs in council properties. I think there should a legal requirement for every dog to be microchipped.

[puzzled]

dangerous pets, as referred to by steve t, are very much in a minority. far and away the most prolific east dulwich doggies are jack russells.

[Jeremy]

puzzled - "pitbull" is frequently used as a pseudonym for bull breeds. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitbull. So you may have to forgive those who are not au fait with the technically correct terms!

I think it depends where you live. In some areas the bull breeds certainly seem to be the most common type of dog, and they often tend to be owned by the type of people who really shouldn't own any dog at all.

[SteveT]

Puzzled wrote:- dangerous pets, as referred to by steve t, are very much in a minority. far and away the most prolific east dulwich doggies are jack russells.

I don't remember criticising Jack Russells, and nor do I remember anyone else in this 'vociferous dog lobby' complaining about Jack Russells either.

Perhaps you could refresh our imperfect memories?

My only complaint has ever been, the dangers of walking across open ground in this city, where you can be readily attacked by a dog, powerful enough to bring down and kill or maim an adult.

All this being controlled by a macho brainless moron who is probably getting a hard on whilst watching the beast maul you.

How can that be a good thing for society?

I do apologise for not making my position clear from the outset it is most remiss of me. Please forgive me.

[siobhanleighhunt]

Emily, hope Woody is continuing to improve? Thanks for keeping us posted on his recovery. I am heartbroken to read this thread. My experience of the rye is that it's a playground for the best and the worse of dog owners. I don't have a dog yet. But having had a childhood with dogs as part of the family I hope that when I am in a position to take on the responsibilty, I would love to have a dog one day.

But for now I have too small a garden and two small children. The eldest is nearly 2 and just reaching the capability of running away from me and creating distance between us. All the doggies and dog walkers that I've introduced my children to in rye in the time that i have lived there have been lovely. However I did recently have an awful encounter with some sort of bull breed running up to my toddler whilst she was playing with a hoola hoop. I was about 100 yards away from her, tending to the baby. Basically a dog galloped up to her and started yanking at her hullahoop. I ran to scoop her up. Dog took the notion to run at the baby in the pram that effectively I was running away from! So I had to run back and shove myself (& held toddler!) in front of pram to stop the what can only be described as 'a very excited' dog from jumping at baby. During these split seconds I could see the owner out of the corner of my eye casually strolling along the path beside the picnic area. He never changed his pace and just watched whilst I ran between the two children. He eventually called out something along the lines of 'oh don't worry, he won't hurt them'. But, as I yelled back at the man 'but I didn't know that!'. Nothing happened but it so obviously could have.

I really don't want my children to have any bad encounters with dogs. I really love dogs and want to be able to facilitate happy friendship between both. Are there any experienced dog handler out there who have got any advise about how to handle public park situations with children? I've never been afraid of dogs at all. But since becoming a mum I'm finding a casual walk into the rye can be really stressful because of feckless owners. I would apreciate advice on how to handle this situation (without the obvious screaming blue murder whuich is what you feel like doing!)

[Catalyst]

pit bulls are an illegal breed, totally banned and very rarely seen. as a regular dog walker, I have never seen one round here. if I ever do, I will call the cops and the council straight away.

You live in south London and you've never seen a pit? The Met's Status Dog unit are have been picking up loads of them over the last couple of years.

There's one called Pikey (no seriously) that I used to see around Nunhead all the time.

[first mate]

siobhanleighhunt,

So sorry to hear about your experience. You must have felt very frightened. Again the owner was totally remiss. Many terrier types and other working breeds bred for hunting, are high energy, "drivey" dogs. They should not be owned by people who want to stroll on the periphery of the park on a mobile phone while their dog goes off to find its own entertainment. Such dogs need to be engaged by the owner to keep attention on him/her, using games and other training techniques. Also people should observe their dog's behaviour at all times when offlead because there are children in the park, there are also other dogs. People who can't be bothered to do these basics should not have a dog at all, in my view.

It is likely that this Staffie was okay with children and toddlers but, as you say, you could not know that for sure and I would be as upset by this as you. What is clear is that the dog had not been taught a good recall. Staffies are far more obedient than most terriers that is why so many people are able to walk them offlead on the pavement- so your bad experience in the park is again, a result of bad ownership.

[cassidy]

Despite pitbulls now being banned some are still owned legally as when the change in the dog law occurred many owners took up the opportunity offered to them and had them chipped and registered with the police allowing them to keep them without then getting in to any trouble about having an illegal dog

[first mate]

Cassidy, yes this is true, though legally owned pits and crosses would be neutered, muzzled and under control at all times , as stated in the DDA. I fear there is a good deal of illegal ownership with dogs making their way in through Ireland, where they are not illegal.

[SteveT]

Catalyst wrote:- There's one called Pikey (no seriously) that I used to see around Nunhead all the time.

Used to see around Nunhead..................does that mean he lost the fight?

[Catalyst]

Who knows. He might still be around.

Speaking about dogs bred in Ireland I've also seen an Irish Blue in Telegraph Hill Park (near Nunhead) that's blatantly a pit cross.