Thursday, December 29, 2011

Blind woman's terror as guide dog is savaged


UNITED KINGDOM -- A blind woman has described the moments she was left panic-stricken when her guide dog was set upon by a crazed terrier.

Jessica Hodgson, 47, was being led by two-year-old yellow Labrador cross retriever Olly along Church Road in Haydock when it was savaged by the dog that had dashed out of a nearby house.

Olly, who was being taken to the vets for a six-monthly check up, was bit on the head and body before a member of the public wrestled the animal off.

Jessica said: “We were about 50 yards from the vets when this dog just flew out of a house and jumped on Olly, sinking his teeth into him. He was on the back of Olly, who was defenceless because he was in a harness.

“A passer by managed to drag the dog off. If he hadn’t I don’t know what would have happened because he was just not going to let go.

“It was really frightening I did not know what was going on. I was being shaken about by Olly trying to get him off. Some of the nurses came out of the vets to help me and took Olly.

“He was left very subdued and quiet for the next few days.”
Jessica’s civil partner, Lee Hodgson, 43, who is also blind, said: “She could do nothing to stop what was going on. It was terrifying for her.

“Jess could just hear her dog squealing. It was only the actions of a neighbour called Tony – who had to grab the dog by the nether regions that stopped the attack.

“Olly has been left badly bruised and has two puncture marks in his head and grazes too. He is also traumatised. Jess is very angry about what happened and so are Guide Dogs for the Blind.”

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association have been assessing Olly to check whether psychological harm caused by the attack will impair his ability to work.

Police confirmed officers were called to Church Road on Wednesday, December 14 after receiving a report that a guide dog had been attacked by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Inspector Steve Lowe said: "We take all incidents where dogs are deemed to be dangerously out of control extremely seriously.

"We are investigating the case and appeal to anyone with any information about the incident to contact us."

David Cowdrey, Guide Dogs' head of public policy and campaigns, said the incident mirrored a national trend.

On average, there are more than seven attacks on guide dogs each month by other dogs. This number has more than doubled since last year, with a previous study on dog attacks, published in June 2010, showing an average of three attacks per month.

Bull terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and pit bull terriers are among the most frequent offenders, according to report by Guide Dogs that was published in September.

In more than nine out of ten cases, attacks took place in public places such as parks, town centres and shopping areas Mr Cowdrey added: "We are hearing more and more about attacks on guide dogs by other dogs.

“They have a huge impact on the dog itself and the owner, who relies on their guide dog to live independently. In the worse cases, they can lead to a guide dog being retired early.

"We want compulsory microchipping of all dogs in England and Wales, and we want police forces to take these attacks more seriously."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

(St Helens Star - Dec 29, 2011)