Pet dog killed in savage attack
Thursday 7th January 2010, 5:59PM GMT.
A pet dog was killed after being attacked by up to four other dogs as her owner walked in a Shropshire field.
Don Flack was in Coalport with his two Jack Russell dogs, Poppy and Buster, when the attack by about four greyhounds or lurchers happened.
Mr Flack tried to fight off the dogs, which were not on leads, with a stick but was unable to save seven-year-old Poppy, who died at the scene yesterday at noon.
The 72-year-old was on the public right of way in the field behind the Silkin Way in Coalport, and between Coalport and the Great Hay Golf Club when the dogs, which attacked his pets, ran over them.
Mr Flack’s daughter-in-law, Joanne, said: “One of the attacking dogs was light brown – grey, and the others were darker coloured.
“My father tried to intervene but there were so many dogs it was impossible to keep them off, and the owner was unable to control them either. They picked up the female and quite literally ripped her to pieces. She died immediately. ”
She said the dogs were being walked by a man aged between 45 and 55 years old, with fair, greying hair.
He may have been wearing a light blue waterproof jacket and refused to give his name or address.
The man was accompanied by another person wearing a red jacket.
Police are investigating the incident and anyone with any information should contact 0300 333 3000.
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My thoughts are with this poor man who was just walking his dogs. I hope that they find the owner of these dogs and they are removed from him immediately. It is people like this that give resposible dog owners a bad name. What is worse that he refused to give his name and address.
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how absolutely awful and terribly distressing, my heart goes out to the owner of the beloved pet jack russell. I have noticed that more and more now there are problem dogs on the attack with owners who just let them loose off lead and have little or no control of their animals – my own dog has been set upon several times in the last few months and i wish these people would at least keep their dog on a lead when they know that their animal is likely to have a go. Dog asbos would be an option in today’s society!
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Police wont do anything will be seen as owners fault, as both sets of dogs were off lead. have had this happen and the poice were useless wont do anything, Police dont care about this
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Yet another example of irresponsible owners. The need for a campaigne to keep dogs on leads or owners not to own more than 2 dogs is paramount.
My Westhighland White was attacked by 4 lurchers type dogs a few years ago in Wrockwardine Wood, he survived but with a few trips to the vets. Anybody want to join a campaigne of this nature. email kazhanmer@blueyonder.co.uk
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Very sad story. Have to say though greyhounds and lurchers don’t usually behave like this unless they are ex racers or working dogs who have the chase instinct. Also more than two dogs together act as a pack.Have to agree with karen hanmer about irresponsible owners but not sure on the comment on only not being able to own more than two dogs; I already have two and would happily have another one.
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Another irresponsible owner, these people should be jailed and the dogs put down. Its a shame for the dogs but once they have done it they will do it again. It was a dog this time what are the owners going to do wait till its killed a small child maybe their child or grandchild. These people are one of the lowest forms of life.
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I feel so sorry for the owner of this poor dog. Please don’t blame the dogs, but the very irresponsible owner for this. I own 2 ex-racing greyhounds who NEVER go off lead. They are sighthounds and will naturally chase smaller animals given a chance. Does nobody know that it is an offence for any dog not to be restrained?
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Karen above promotes poor animal welfare . Dogs need to be excersised and that means off the lead not just a run around in the back garden.
What is needed is some dog owners to be educated with regards dogs &ownership. If your dog cant be trusted in public it should be mussled a simple thing like that would have overted the attack on the dog in question.
The restriction of 2 dogs ownership again is a rather silly ill thought out idea and a tad bit big brotherish.
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@Dog asbos would be an option in today’s society!
What a pathetic idea, like human asbo’s have made any difference.
You are a true child of the Labour government Linda if you honestly believe asbo’s and any of the other initiatives put in place make a jot of difference.
Dog asbo’s indeed.
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I’m with 7. Dog Owner on this one, we too have an ex-racing greyhound and she never goes off the lead in a public place for exactly the reasons given, i.e. she has been trained to chase after small creatures. We don’t even leave her unattended in our own home when we look after a relative’s Jack Russell.
I’m very sorry for the owner of the Jack Russell in this particular tale, although it does also sound as though it was off the lead, not that this absolves the other owner of the majority of the responsibility for the incident.
I’ve often thought that enterprising landowners out there could do well if they had secure fields that they could rent out for the purpose of running dogs such as ours, i.e. an environment where they would be unlikely to do any harm whilst still getting to run as other dogs do.
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