Another fatal dog attack

[Landcruiser]

Police confirm armed officers shot dog dead after two people hurt in Calderdale village attack

Police have confirmed a dog has been shot dead by armed officers after two people were hurt in a Calderdale village tonight.

www.halifaxcourier.co.uk

There'll be more of these. They'll be driven away and dumped - the only answer is some sort of amnesty, where they can be handed in and euthanised for free, no questions asked. There will always be some people that won't pay and won't train and won't obey the law, but at least an amnesty would remove a portion of the potential dumped dogs.

 

[cauda equina]

An amnesty is a good idea but I don't think it would entirely solve the problem of dumped dogs
Just as people will try to offload old/unsound horses rather than pts themselves, there would probably be people who dumped their dogs under the guise of 'giving them a chance' or some such nonsense

 

[Widgeon]

There'll be more of these. They'll be driven away and dumped - the only answer is some sort of amnesty, where they can be handed in and euthanised for free, no questions asked.

I was under the impression that this was what the government were trying to implement - the £200 grant to help pay the costs of having a dog PTS. But that still requires the owner to pay the vet and THEN claim the compensation.....so I think it's likely to be only the more responsible owners who make use of this scheme. As @cauda equina says, dumping these poor dogs is just like the people who advertise their "beloved" 25 year old horse to a "forever home" because they don't want to face the financial and / or emotional implications of doing the right thing by it.

 

[J&T]

The dog that was shot by police was apparently well trained and had been assessed by a known trainer.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1722297139701633446

Reading the statement the owner has put out it just proves why they should be banned and why bully owners need to stop saying it's the deed not the breed because if after good training they still attack them it's clearly the breed.

And to say this behavior was normal because several dogs were fighting is ridiculous.

I've owned golden retrievers for over 20yrs and I've owned well into double digits and let me tell you not once did any of them ever think it was Normal to join in a fight and kill another dog all of mine have just ignored when other dogs have been fighting ( I try to stay away from idiot dog owners but we often have seen fights on beaches or in big woodland areas) all of mine have come straight to me when a fight would break out and would focus on me and we'd move the hell out of there straight away.

I'm glad there banned I just wish ban meant extinction for this breed they should never have been bred in the first place.

 

[Cortez]

The statement from the owner is very measured and thoughtful, but entirely misses the point. Had Bohdi been say, a cocker spaniel, he may still have joined in the fight, but he would have been 100 times less likely to kill the other dog.

 

[Clodagh]

Mmm. Idk. Hounds kill each other sometimes, so do bassets and beagles. Terriers. I had a lurcher who along with a Labrador killed a harrier. Dogs are indeed dogs.

 

[Cortez]

Mmm. Idk. Hounds kill each other sometimes, so do bassets and beagles. Terriers. I had a lurcher who along with a Labrador killed a harrier. Dogs are indeed dogs.

Whilst it's true that dogs can kill each other in fights, the fact remains that a large majority of dogs killed by other dogs are killed by pitbull/XL types, a disproportionate number.

 

[Clodagh]

Whilst it's true that dogs can kill each other in fights, the fact remains that a large majority of dogs killed by other dogs are killed by pitbull/XL types, a disproportionate number.

I do agree , of course they are better at it as they have been bred for generations to be good at it, with the build and temperament. I agree with the owner though is that all dogs have it in them to kill.

 

[CorvusCorax]

So it looks like the owner bred the dog themselves and had a sister returned and was looking for a home. Plus another male in foster which did not get on with the dog who was shot.
Did not seem like a bad person, very into rescue/foster/rehoming.
In pictures, at a year old, the dead dog standing on their shoulders, same height and I'd guess weight, if not heavier.

I've been in some spicy situations and got holes in me, but I've always been able to get a dog off me, so far and touch wood. I had dinner with a retired police handler (and others) at the weekend who was absolutely laced by his own dog a few years ago but was able to fight him off. With these dogs I can see why that would be difficult.

 

[conniegirl]

I've owned golden retrievers for over 20yrs and I've owned well into double digits and let me tell you not once did any of them ever think it was Normal to join in a fight and kill another dog all of mine have just ignored when other dogs have been fighting

I agree.
We had a fight here yesterday between my parents goldie and my border terrier. A broom in the middle and ordering them both to their beds stopped it dead.
A leather boot clad foot probably would have had the same effect.

At no point did i feel there was any chance of me getting injured, either dog drawing blood or anything other than a lot of noise and bared teeth happening.
Its a very one sided fight the goldie is 5 times the size of the terrier and could have easily killed the terrier but not even a drop of blood was drawn.

 

[ycbm]

From what i understand, most animals are programmed to fight to win resources, food or mating rights, and the fight is designed to end when the loser gives in, not when it's killed. Of course deaths happen but they aren't nature's intention unless the species is cannibalistic. The difference with the XL bullies from other dogs seems to be the strength of their desire to kill.
.

 

[stormox]

From what i understand, most animals are programmed to fight to win resources, food or mating rights, and the fight is designed to end when the loser gives in, not when it's killed. Of course deaths happen but they aren't nature's intention unless the species is cannibalistic. The difference with the XL bullies from other dogs seems to be the strength of their desire to kill.
.

In other words, XL bullys and other bull types don't give in when provoked into a fight, they don't submit and walk away tail down.

 

[skinnydipper]

Was it a fight or an attack?

I would be interested to hear the victim's owner's version of the incident.

 

[Cortez]

In other words, XL bullys and other bull types don't give in when provoked into a fight, they don't submit and walk away tail down.

They also have the ability and jaw/head conformation to inflict far worse injuries.

 

[marmalade76]

In other words, XL bullys and other bull types don't give in when provoked into a fight, they don't submit and walk away tail down.

They were originally bred for fighting and bull baiting, of course the won't give in!

 

[Chucho]

Some of it seems to be about a lack of restraint that must be genetic.

Our old girl was attacked by a GSD and JRT. They escaped a garden to get at her, we were walking quietly on the other side of the road from their house. The owner heard me shrieking and got hold of the GSD. The JRT was jumping and snarling and snapping at her. They were moving so fast you couldn't separate them. In the end our girl grabbed the JRT in her mouth. It took a few times of asking before she would drop it. There wasn't a mark on it, she had just wanted to stop it going for her. She could easily have severely harmed it if she'd chosen to, but instead took a proportionate response. That seems to me to be what is lacking in these dogs and that's what makes them so dangerous.

 

[Landcruiser]

I think what makes them so dangerous (apart from the fact that so many are owned by clueless and often irresponsible people) is the unpredictable and hard wired ability to switch and go from "normal" behaviour to "attack/kill/no thought, " for no good reason. Victims who have been attacked by their own dogs have said over and again that the dog just flipped, his eyes were different/dead/staring, it was as if a switch had gone off, there was no reason for it, etc etc. I think it's a bit like a true bolt in a horse - running blind through fences, absolutely out of control and oblivious to everything but hard instinct. These dogs, or a proportion of them, have this gene or propensity, and there's no way to predict when it activates. They are timebombs, not fur babies.

 

[skinnydipper]

More on the lady attacked in her garden by the dog she adopted from the Dogs Trust. It's horrific.

XL Bully dog attack victim suffers life-changing injuries and psychological trauma

The owner of XL Bully Denvor who was mauled in a vicious attack at her Brisley home, near Dereham, Norfolk, last month has suffered life-changing…

www.edp24.co.uk

 

[cauda equina]

More on the lady attacked in her garden by the dog she adopted from the Dogs Trust. It's horrific.

XL Bully dog attack victim suffers life-changing injuries and psychological trauma

The owner of XL Bully Denvor who was mauled in a vicious attack at her Brisley home, near Dereham, Norfolk, last month has suffered life-changing…

www.edp24.co.uk

The DT said the dog had 'no history of aggression', but had come from a pound
How could they possibly know what his history was?

 

[AmyMay]

The DT said the dog had 'no history of aggression', but had come from a pound
How could they possibly know what his history was?

Exactly!

 

[paddy555]

We do not routinely carry out home visits for adopters. Where a home visit is not conducted, our decision on the suitability of adopters is based on the information provided on their application form, discussions with them and suitable references."

so they rehome what is just about the most dangerous breed in the country to, well, just anyone who can fill in a form and come up with a good story?

when we rehomed a cat, a simple basic moggy who was very unlikely to kill anyone we had a home check. We also had a follow up home check.

 

[marmalade76]

We do not routinely carry out home visits for adopters. Where a home visit is not conducted, our decision on the suitability of adopters is based on the information provided on their application form, discussions with them and suitable references."

so they rehome what is just about the most dangerous breed in the country to, well, just anyone who can fill in a form and come up with a good story?

when we rehomed a cat, a simple basic moggy who was very unlikely to kill anyone we had a home check. We also had a follow up home check.

And basically blaming the victims. And they did not stop offering bullies for rehoming when the ban was announced, they stopped offering them after this incident.

This attack sounds absolutely horrific, poor woman, and if I were them I'd be contacting some "where there's blame, there's a claim" companies and take DT to court. I bet the only reason they gave these folks this dog was because they have no and weren't going to have any children.

 

[DabDab]

We do not routinely carry out home visits for adopters. Where a home visit is not conducted, our decision on the suitability of adopters is based on the information provided on their application form, discussions with them and suitable references."

so they rehome what is just about the most dangerous breed in the country to, well, just anyone who can fill in a form and come up with a good story?

when we rehomed a cat, a simple basic moggy who was very unlikely to kill anyone we had a home check. We also had a follow up home check.

That was the bit I couldn't believe either?! What kind of tin pot animal regoming centre rehomes off an application form alone. Jeepers, it could be a blummin dog fighting racquet for pity sake

 

[skinnydipper]

And they expect people to trust them to match them with a dog. No way.

 

[Arzada]

This attack sounds absolutely horrific, poor woman, and if I were them I'd be contacting some "where there's blame, there's a claim" companies and take DT to court.

I agree. If we didn't have the NHS patching people up and victims had to pay what are very likely very high medical bills then there certainly would be litigation to attempt to recover costs etc

 

[CorvusCorax]

I agree. If we didn't have the NHS patching people up and victims had to pay what are very likely very high medical bills then there certainly would be litigation to attempt to recover costs etc

The woman and her partner are entitled to sue on a number of counts, including loss of earnings.

 

[Caol Ila]

Saw an XL bully today. They were coming towards myself, OH, and horse, then they had an “Oh, sh1t!” reaction and cut down a different trail. The dog barked at us and I could see them hanging onto it for dear life. Our plan had been to use the trail they’d scuttled down, but nope. We changed our plan and did a different route.

The people were responsible but why have a dog who you feel you have so little control over, even on lead, that you need to leg it when you see a horse.

 

[Chucho]

At least they diverted to try and put some space between you, even if they were still too close for the dog not to react.

FWIW I always reroute/move off a trail when I see a horse and rider so that we can give the horse space to pass in a place where I am comfortable that my dogs are comfortable. I do this having been the rider chased by loose dogs, barked at by dogs, etc. Previous dogs spent time at yards, the current youngsters are not familiar with horses for various reasons so I would always go for putting space in between us knowing about that lack of exposure.

I agree it's not ideal to take a dog somewhere where it will get triggered if you know that place has things that will cause it a problem. Best to work on these things somewhere where you have better control of the environment. Previous adoptees from SoCal had never seen horses, sheep, cows, goats, frogs, slugs, toads until we brought them to Cornwall (never mind the deer, elk, and bears here first). They all got used to these things with training over time. I wouldn't have not had them because of it and they were pretty excitable in the early days. I expect we looked at bit out of control at times. Especially over toads. Weirdly.

 

[Caol Ila]

I guess the scary part was that I could see this burly guy having to put all his weight into hanging onto his dog. That's a strong animal. And they moved away from us quickly. They must have been a good 30m away, and the dog and handler were having a tough wrestling match. It seems like such a dangerous animal to own when you could have a spaniel.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Saw an XL bully today. They were coming towards myself, OH, and horse, then they had an “Oh, sh1t!” reaction and cut down a different trail. The dog barked at us and I could see them hanging onto it for dear life. Our plan had been to use the trail they’d scuttled down, but nope. We changed our plan and did a different route.

The people were responsible but why have a dog who you feel you have so little control over, even on lead, that you need to leg it when you see a horse.

My previous pairs used to go to the yard but the current youngsters went once only to meet people, not horses, before I lost Beau. I have no idea how they'd react, they've only seen horses in passing as we go to the woods. Horses can't get into the woods we go to. Even sitting them quietly on the path might be too much for them, I dunno. I'd probably try to avoid horses too.