Two Police horses attacked by dog and one horse injured

[conniegirl]

43 years years, do you mind! Jesus I feel old.

Yes, I've been chased on horseback three times by dogs, once on a cross country course!
.

Lol, i knew it was more than me but not how much more so played safe!

 

[splashgirl45]

Well I’ve beaten you 63 years!!!! Would be more if I hadn’t been forced to give up last year .. adding to the thoughts earlier , if I had been teaching a group and one fell off, I would be very angry if another novice rider got off and went to the fallen rider. Instructors usually have first aid experience and should be left to sort out the fallen rider not a person with hardly any knowledge ..

 

[Moobli]

I agree that a large dog can do a lot of damage merely by jumping but muzzled would probably prevent the ripping things to shreds that seems to happen more or less daily now. Also a lot of large dogs on leads seem to tow their owners around at will, so I don't think that is huge preventative.

I think blanket muzzling is sadly going to have to be the way to go. I am in favour of it means people and animals can have a degree of safety.

Most dog bites happen in the home though so sadly unless dogs are to be muzzled at all times (completely unrealistic) it won’t stop the majority of bites or fatalities.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Well I’ve beaten you 63 years!!!! Would be more if I hadn’t been forced to give up last year .. adding to the thoughts earlier , if I had been teaching a group and one fell off, I would be very angry if another novice rider got off and went to the fallen rider. Instructors usually have first aid experience and should be left to sort out the fallen rider not a person with hardly any knowledge ..

Unless of course said other person was a fully trained paramedic/doctor then I would happily take the reins of the horse and leave them to it

 

[splashgirl45]

Agree I would also be very happy with that, but said person should have given his horse to the trainer and not another novice

 

[reynold]

According to the H&H article the police horse has injuries to its belly, chest and both front legs and is receiving daily visits from the vet. Poor horse must be in a great deal of discomfort if not pain. The public have been sending treats and apples to give to the injured horse.

The police took into 'custody' another 17 dogs following an attack on a child - bully type dogs from a house/family that appeared to be breeding them.

As an aside does anyone know if the 6 or 8 dogs involved in the death of the dog walker are still in custody or have they been released back to their owners? I haven't heard anything since but the types of dogs involved show that even 'normal family pets' can cause a lot of damage let alone these bully breeds or large dogs hyped up by their stupid owners to be agressive.

I've also got over 60 years experience with horses although no longer able to ride and totally agree that you never get off in case the horse gets loose and causes another accident. Also 2nd Elf in saying that if there was a doctor/paramedic there I'd let them assess a fallen rider but as stated it is I think a requirement for registered instructors to have up-to-date first aid training so best leave them to it.

 

[BallyJ]

When I started my GSD pup at puppy class there was a woman there with a Viszla pup. She told me that if she tried to get the pup off its bed it bit her and couldn't see a problem with that! Unfortunately she only came for a couple of weeks, don't think she liked the fact that the trainer didn't share her thoughts on what was and wasn't a problem.

That sounds like most of the people in the class with us. I'm only there so I can work Moss nearby other dogs without interacting, but it will be interesting to see who turns up again!

 

[Rowreach]

Unless of course said other person was a fully trained paramedic/doctor then I would happily take the reins of the horse and leave them to it

I've found they generally don't want to get involved - I know a particular paramedic who volunteers with one of our clubs (a different sport, not horses), and she is renowned for her disappearing acts the second it looks like someone is unwell or injured. The groups I work with are given a questionnaire in advance which asks for their occupations and experience. The ones that don't want to answer are the medics and the police, so I always know what they do anyway, despite the blanks

The best first aiders tend to be sports coaches.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

I've found they generally don't want to get involved - I know a particular paramedic who volunteers with one of our clubs (a different sport, not horses), and she is renowned for her disappearing acts the second it looks like someone is unwell or injured. The groups I work with are given a questionnaire in advance which asks for their occupations and experience. The ones that don't want to answer are the medics and the police, so I always know what they do anyway, despite the blanks

The best first aiders tend to be sports coaches.

Yes, in our RC we have a couple of medical professionals plus a GP, also 2 vets - never usually see them if there is an incident.
Only once have I got involved when in a clinic. There was a horse and rider interface at a fence. Coach ran to rider, I hopped off and handed B to another in the group and went to deal with horse as there were no foot followers at that time. Rider was ko'd and horse needed stitches. Coach got rider sent off in blues and 2s, thankfully horse bleeding was stopped and a vet (also RC member but who was tacking up for next session) had her kit and repaired horse. Fab tiny stitches - shes a small animal vet, I guessed about 5, she sutured 9 in there lol.
Give me horse to deal with any time!

 

[Pebble101]

As an aside does anyone know if the 6 or 8 dogs involved in the death of the dog walker are still in custody or have they been released back to their owners?

Apparently still in police kennels.

 

[spotty_pony]

I haven’t read all of the replies but unfortunately it’s the dog that will suffer most at the hands of its owner. The dog will be destroyed but unless it already has a history of biting or attacking then the man will get off with a warning and nothing will be done unless it happens again. I think more should be done on the first offence to make dog owners more aware that they need to become more responsible. This seems to be happening far too often. I also think dogs should be banned on bridleways - after all

 

[SilverLinings]

The video showing the Highland cattle is only going to become more common too, from farmers in the local area and what I've heard online, many are not giving the dog any chances now, it'll be a case of shooting right away.

It's awful but I'm starting to think that it might not be a bad thing if a few out of control dogs were shot by farmers and it made the national press- it might actually get through to some of the useless dog owners out there that there are consequences for not behaving responsibly. It would be awful for the dog, but better than multiple sheep being killed etc.

The police took into 'custody' another 17 dogs following an attack on a child - bully type dogs from a house/family that appeared to be breeding them.

Might it be a good idea to limit the number of dogs a household could have (e.g. four) before having to register with the local council (and giving a reason why you have so many)? I realise there are reasons other than breeding that mean people own multiple dogs, such as trialling or showing, but if there was a requirement to register (and a punishment for not doing so, such as having the dogs removed) then it might make it easier for authorities to act in cases of dodgy breeding businesses, owning lots of dogs for fighting, etc.

And there is no way 17 dogs could be kept humanely in an urban domestic house, unless it had an exceptionally large garden with room for suitable kennels. And were they really able to give all 17 dogs (assuming that didn't include young puppies) adequate daily exercise?

 

[ester]

I’m impressed

I haven’t read all of the replies but unfortunately it’s the dog that will suffer most at the hands of its owner. The dog will be destroyed but unless it already has a history of biting or attacking then the man will get off with a warning and nothing will be done unless it happens again. I think more should be done on the first offence to make dog owners more aware that they need to become more responsible. This seems to be happening far too often. I also think dogs should be banned on bridleways - after all

a while ago there was a possible bill/thing to make assaulting a police dog the equivalent of doing so to an officer and I wondered if the same would then apply

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Yesterday we passed a dog walker who had 10 dogs with her. Granted they were all on leads but some of them were big dogs, all lab/collie size and up. Surely no one should be allowed to walk that many at a time? And do their owners know they are going out in such big groups? It's scary to think what would have happened if some of them had decided to go after the horses.

 

[SilverLinings]

Yesterday we passed a dog walker who had 10 dogs with her. Granted they were all on leads but some of them were big dogs, all lab/collie size and up. Surely no one should be allowed to walk that many at a time? And do their owners know they are going out in such big groups? It's scary to think what would have happened if some of them had decided to go after the horses.

I'm quite surprised that dog walkers' insurance allows them to walk so many at once (apparently it does), as most walkers seem to let them off the lead and I don't see how you can keep 10 assorted dogs from different households under control at once. I do wonder whether insurance rules might change following the death of the dog walker earlier in the year, although I suppose that was only one incident and it still isn't clear exactly what happened.

 

[Moobli]

I’m impressed


a while ago there was a possible bill/thing to make assaulting a police dog the equivalent of doing so to an officer and I wondered if the same would then apply

Finn’s Law makes it a criminal offence to injure service animals.

 

[spotty_pony]

Deleted as it posted twice

 

[ester]

Finn’s Law makes it a criminal offence to injure service animals.

Thanks moobli

 

[Tiddlypom]

Re how many dogs should a dog walker be legally allowed to walk.

Only yesterday a very friendly and nice 40 something neighbour was pulled clean off his feet to face plant on the road by his 3 on lead labs in front of OH and the JRT (also on lead) .

There was never any aggressive intention. Neighbour had his elderly and rather infirm mum with him, she went forward to pat the JRT who she is fond of and the labs surged forward behind her pulling her son clean over.

No harm done, but with different dogs involved it could have ended badly for people and dogs.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I'm quite surprised that dog walkers' insurance allows them to walk so many at once (apparently it does), as most walkers seem to let them off the lead and I don't see how you can keep 10 assorted dogs from different households under control at once. I do wonder whether insurance rules might change following the death of the dog walker earlier in the year, although I suppose that was only one incident and it still isn't clear exactly what happened.

I'd also be surprised if the digs owners knew they took so many in one go. The going rate round here £16 an hour per dog. You take 10 and thats £160 an hour. Insurance isn't that much. My sister does it as a side line (only 1 dog at a time and will only take up to 3 from the same household, she won't mix them) and it's £4 a month.

 

[MurphysMinder]

And there is no way 17 dogs could be kept humanely in an urban domestic house, unless it had an exceptionally large garden with room for suitable kennels. And were they really able to give all 17 dogs (assuming that didn't include young puppies) adequate daily exercise?
[/QUOTE]

This is from a local paper. Not sure what the remaining 4 dogs were.

On Monday (March 27), police confirmed a total of 17 dogs have been seized as part of their investigation into the attack, including four adult dogs and nine puppies. They have also identified a vehicle of interest.

 

[splashgirl45]

It's awful but I'm starting to think that it might not be a bad thing if a few out of control dogs were shot by farmers and it made the national press- it might actually get through to some of the useless dog owners out there that there are consequences for not behaving responsibly. It would be awful for the dog, but better than multiple sheep being killed etc.



Might it be a good idea to limit the number of dogs a household could have (e.g. four) before having to register with the local council (and giving a reason why you have so many)? I realise there are reasons other than breeding that mean people own multiple dogs, such as trialling or showing, but if there was a requirement to register (and a punishment for not doing so, such as having the dogs removed) then it might make it easier for authorities to act in cases of dodgy breeding businesses, owning lots of dogs for fighting, etc.

And there is no way 17 dogs could be kept humanely in an urban domestic house, unless it had an exceptionally large garden with room for suitable kennels. And were they really able to give all 17 dogs (assuming that didn't include young puppies) adequate daily exercise?

the idea of limiting the number of dogs in one household wouldn’t work, it would just mean that responsible dog owners would comply and the other element would do as they have always done. Rather like the horse passport and microchip system, we all rushed out and got our passports , how many coloured abandoned horses had microchips? I think that is none!!

 

[Most Curious]

Hi everyone
Well had my weekly private riding lesson today. Was also grooming and tacking up the horse prior to the lesson.
I asked the young lady riding instructor if while hacking, a dog came up and started attacking the horse, would she dismount from the horse ?
Her reply was 'No', she would not dismount, she would stay on the horse as the dog may attack her.
So I guess you were right all along, my mistake.
I also asked what sort of horsey channels she watches on Youtube,
She said Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester videos.
In my opinion these two equestrian riders know what they are talking about.

 

[YorksG]

I have to say that I am fascinated by the idea that novice rider feels that they know so much better than the police officer in the video, as well as many obviously experienced posters. I can only presume that as it appears to identify as male, that it therefore believes that it's knowledge is automatically superior!

 

[Rowreach]

“Young lady riding instructor”

 

[SilverLinings]

the idea of limiting the number of dogs in one household wouldn’t work, it would just mean that responsible dog owners would comply and the other element would do as they have always done. Rather like the horse passport and microchip system, we all rushed out and got our passports , how many coloured abandoned horses had microchips? I think that is none!!

I was thinking along the lines of requiring them to register with the local council (or other official body) rather than there being a total ban on more than X dogs per household, but I agree that there would still be people who wouldn't comply. My thoughts in the last post were clutching at straws really, we've had long discussions abut the solution to this on AAD, and whatever ideas people come up with it sadly always seems to come down to the fact that the 'worst' owners are the ones who will ignore the law anyway.

As there doesn't seem to be much enforcement of the current rules (e.g. microchipping, dogs being kept under control) I doubt any new ones would actually be enforced either, even if there was funding available (e.g. via dog licenses).

The problems seem to be worse at the moment due to the sheer proliferation of dogs post-pandemic (and the accordingly large number of clueless owners), and the attraction of aggressive dogs to a certain section of society. I think the saddest thing is that a lot of these types of owners don't care much about their dog's happiness/comfort/welfare (certainly once the novelty of the puppy wears off), let alone how the dog behaves towards others.

For supposedly being a nation of animal lovers we aren't doing a very good job.

 

[splashgirl45]

Maybe we also need to give big fines out for non compliance re microchipping, non registration of breeding, dog attacks to either other dogs or humans etc… destroying the offending dog is unlikely to upset some of the more dubious owners and we don’t need to jail them but hit them financially might make them think

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I am really having to work at my confidence with riding and have gotten off in situations I felt being on the ground I could keep myself calm and in the headspace needed to get us through the situation and with a horse I could safely handle on the ground in those situations. But even for me being chased/attacked by a dog is a situation in which I would absolutely not get off.

 

[Honey08]

What do they do if there's a football hooligan attacking another police horse? Do they just sit there and watch and tell members of the public to pull them off?

Years ago I watched someone smash a beer glass on a police horse’s back. Both mounted police officers galloped at the guy, grabbed him and dragged him off at a fast trot. This was twenty years ago. They scared the hell out of him. Nowadays they’d probably get reported.

But I don’t understand why they didn’t batter the dog with their whip/truncheons. I would if something came at my horse.

When the huge lunatic of a bloke got onto the flight deck of a jumbo and threw himself on the controls they got him off by sticking their fingers in his eye sockets. I think I’d try that with a dog if I had to get it off my dog/horse. They also say lift up the back legs in a dog fight.

 

[ester]

They definitely don't have a whip and I'm not convinced they had truncheons, there isn't anything obvious attached to saddles. They were in more what I would see the bristol lot out in when they were having more of a break hack going across the downs.
I suspect what they take with them in future might change as a result.