Police Horse news item

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NeilM

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There is a news item about a Police horse that was attacked by a dog. The person in charge of the dog has just been sent to jail for four months.

Does this set a precedent? Or at least give those unfortunate enough to be chased or attacked by a dog an example to take to their local Police?

My impression, from posts I have seen here, is that the local Police don't seem to know what to do when attacks are reported.
 
My friend and her horse suffered a dog attack which included injuiries to the tendon through the brushing boot. During the attack the staffie was hanging off the leg - any action taken - no. CPS declined - so called "friend" who couldn't be traced owned dog and guy even wanted damages for vet treatment to dog. This dog was not on a lead and ran out of a garden to attack horse in road.

Was the guy whose dog chased Mike Tucker and his horse for 1.5 miles jailed - I don't think so.

Perhaps there's more to the case but I'm afraid I'm a bit cynical and think it's because it's a police horse. My freind was an ex WPC and that doesn't count to get preferential treatment.
 
I think any thing that gets attacked by a dog, whether it be human or animal, the owner should be prosecuted and the animal destroyed. Harsh I know, but if the owner cannot keep their obviously dangerous animal under control, then strong action should be taken!!

Something needs to be done about these "trophy" dogs and there stupid, incompatent (sp) owners!!
 
irish_only said:
If a dog attacks sheep, the farmer is within his rights to insist the dog is destroyed.
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The same rules should apply to horses, or there should be at least some protection.
I've been chased by a dog once, i was on a clydesdale at the time and not my own scatty thing thank god.
He was still scared though, when he stamped out at the dog I got shouted at!!!
 
I am not a lawyer, but I have a feeling this might all be about the different laws you can prosecute under. I *think* (please correct me if I am wrong) that attacking a Police horse is similar to attacking a Police Officer so there are specific laws to deal with this, whereas attacking a horse is damage to property for which you need to bring a private prosecution not a criminal one - is this totally wrong?

Asking for a dog to be PTS for worrying livestock is yet another issue.
 
It probably has more to do with being able to press the right legal buttons than about being a police horse - although obviously a police officer would know which buttons to press. Attacking a police horse isn't the same as hitting a police officer - but could possibly be construed as seeking to impede an officer in persuit of his duties.

To get police action following a dog attack on your horse you must emphasise that you were in fear and at risk of attack personally. Using or permitting a dog to harass a person is a criminal offence. Allowing it to attack an animal isn't - although delibertaely setting a dog to attack another animal such as in dog fighting or cock baiting is animal cruelty.
 
I was attacked by a dog when i was 11, it tore my arm to shreds and still have very visable scars, the dog attacked a person before me and a man after me, the result, due to where the dog attacked the man he can no longer have kids :mad::( this dog was apparently a loving family dog and was provoked by everyone he bit, i was just walking passed the dog who was apparently chained up :eek::rolleyes:
IMO any dogs that attack should be PTS why should we have to wait for the animal to attack and possibly fataly injure a human before anything is done, owners should also be prosecuted everytime, its not had to teach a dog right from wrong and not to attack, not one of my dogs have ever ever bitten a human or another animal, yes they play fight with each other but thats totally different.
 
Lippyx said:
I think any thing that gets attacked by a dog, whether it be human or animal, the owner should be prosecuted and the animal destroyed. Harsh I know, but if the owner cannot keep their obviously dangerous animal under control, then strong action should be taken!!

Something needs to be done about these "trophy" dogs and there stupid, incompatent (sp) owners!!
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I fully agree with this.
 
Shay said:
It probably has more to do with being able to press the right legal buttons than about being a police horse - although obviously a police officer would know which buttons to press. Attacking a police horse isn't the same as hitting a police officer - but could possibly be construed as seeking to impede an officer in persuit of his duties.
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Do you all remember that thing about the guy who got prosecuted for calling a policehorse gay?

I think boobos may well be right here in that there is something in the fact that horse was a police horse.

I agree that any dog that attacks a horse, human or livestock ought to be destroyed and the owner prosecuted.
 
Every case is individual, and treated as such, Even if the police want to do something, if the CPS don't think there are enough grounds, witness evidence etc, then they have the final say. The CPS are not the Police, if the Police had more of a free rein to actually prosicute and use their common sense, things would probably be alot better. I would have thought there is no difference in a 'normal' horse v's a Police horse in these circ's, but still amazed at how many people jump at 'oh, the Police only protect their own' attitude.

Rant over.
 
Booboos said:
I am not a lawyer, but I have a feeling this might all be about the different laws you can prosecute under. I *think* (please correct me if I am wrong) that attacking a Police horse is similar to attacking a Police Officer so there are specific laws to deal with this, whereas attacking a horse is damage to property for which you need to bring a private prosecution not a criminal one - is this totally wrong?

Asking for a dog to be PTS for worrying livestock is yet another issue.
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Certainly if a police dog is attacked, they are protected as a 'Police Officer'. If the same rule applies to police horses i.e. they are classed as 'police officers', then that would explain the preferential treatment. Can't say I agree with it, though.

Horses are covered as livestock under the Dangerous Dogs Act and therefore dogs are treated (or supposed to be) the same whether it's a horse/sheep or cattle. Personal experience has taught me that the police haven't a bloody clue about the Act or protection of livestock, though.
 
Ayla84 said:
I was attacked by a dog when i was 11, it tore my arm to shreds and still have very visable scars, the dog attacked a person before me and a man after me, the result, due to where the dog attacked the man he can no longer have kids :mad::( this dog was apparently a loving family dog and was provoked by everyone he bit, i was just walking passed the dog who was apparently chained up :eek::rolleyes:
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I have had the opposite where a woman hit one of my dogs then claimed that the rest attacked her. The only other person to witness it was my mother who saw what she did out of a window then ran (less than 30 seconds out of veiw) to stop my dogs barking at the woman. She had gone through 2 gates both of which had letter boxes that are suiable for parcels on them to deliver a yellow pages, she had hit one of the dogs with the yellow pages.

We went through alot of heart ache, many assessments to proove that our dogs are safe. We then had to install a third gate or put our dogs down despite many attempts at antagonising our dogs to attack by "experts" sent by the police. We also had to pay the woman off under threat by the police. We were advised that because it was one word against another we would not be look favourably if we took it to court and we would be banned from owning animals so it would have ment putting down 4 dogs, selling 3 horses and getting rid of the chickens. We went through several months of hell, threats for 4 little dogs who were friendly, happy little charicters. After being hit they now bark at people and we are very careful with them as they are easilly scared and intimidated.

I was also attacked twice on a much lesser scale by a dog that was owned by a prvious neighbour. Once it jumped up and bit my face (no marks no harm done just a bit shocked) the second it attacked one of my horses while I was riding. The owners tried all they could but one day it turned on them and one of them spent a few days in hospital recovering. They put the dog down. It was unpredictable and uncontrolable. They were good and responsible owners in my opinion, I did not see them ever do anything untoward and they went to several professionals, the dog was just off its trolly.

There are always 2 sides to a story but any serious attack or episode where the dog show behaviour that is not safe should be taken seriously. If my dogs had done what the dog did to you Anya or showed behaviour that could lead to what happened they would be put to sleep. No questions asked.
 
There were two seperate incidents in Scotland recently...one where a ten year old girl was mauled by two Rottweilers in Dundee, and the other, a girl of the same age by a single dog in Kilmarnock. Both children needed over 100 hundred stitches to wounds to their limbs and faces. The Dundee girl had her jaw broken and serious wounding to her legs and an arm; the Kilmarnock girl sustained most of the damage to her face.

I wait eagerly to see what the CPS have to say about these cases.
 
If you are a member of the British Horse Society you will have just received their magazine 'British Horse' which has a long article on dog attacks and quotes all the different laws that can be used if you and/or your horse are attacked by a dog.

In the case of the dog that attacked the police horse it was being walked by a friend of the family but he was still prosecuted because the dog was off the lead and not under control.
 
Just to add that the dog in question was a "pit bull type" and would therefore be governed under the Dangerous Dogs Act making prosecution easier than if it were a breed not covered by the Act
 
Always wondered what would happen if your horse kicked a dog. Many times my horse has been chased by dogs, he always kicks out at them. Would i be prosecuted if he actually hurt the dog? Might add they were not on leads. And it was on a bridle path.
 
Black_Horse_White said:
Always wondered what would happen if your horse kicked a dog. Many times my horse has been chased by dogs, he always kicks out at them. Would i be prosecuted if he actually hurt the dog? Might add they were not on leads. And it was on a bridle path.
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Hpefully the owner would see its their stupid fault the horse has kicked their dog/s. Cant see there being any resaon to prosecute because its the dogs fault and the owners fault!

Ayla booted my Oh`s lurcher very very hard, the dog rolled about ten foot got up and was fine, not a mark, no broken ribs, stupid dog then ran across the field and straight into the electric fence which according to her yelps hurt more than the kick :D
 
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