Havering residents raise fears of ‘trophy dogs’ after attacks
A pitbull terrier - a banned breed in the UK. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA - Credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images
Fears over dangerous “trophy dogs” and their owners have been triggered by attacks on humans and other animals.
Police have insisted there is no problem but the Recorder has this week received reports from residents of a series of incidents.
This month three men were sentenced for possessing a “fighting dog” that was shot dead after it dragged a minicab driver down the street by his leg in, Chelmsford Avenue, Collier Row.
Also, dog minder Edwin Day, 73, of Globe Road, Hornchurch, was looking after two large dogs that live in Harold Hill when one of them to “punched” through the fence to wound another dog.
An hour later, the other dog later horrendously mauled another canine. The vet describe the wound on the dog’s neck was an attempt to “finish him off”.
“One smashed through the fence and attacked the dog next door. Within hours the other one chased after another neighbour’s dog and really got into it,” he said.
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He called on the police this week to take action and prevent the dogs harming again like they did in last month’s attack.
“It seems a bit prolific, particularly in Harold Hill, with lads with trophy dogs,” he said.
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Concerned mother Louise McNeely, of Kersaw Road, Dagenham, contacted the Recorder after her 14-year-old son was bitten and thrown from his bike as he cycled through Central Park, Harold Hill, on Sunday.
The dog did not break the teenager’s skin but he did rip his jeans and when Mrs McNeely approached the owner “he just laughed” she said.
Lesley Winch, 65, from Hatherleigh Way, Harold Hill, also raised concerns with police after her Greyhound was attacked in Central Park by two large dogs.
“The owner couldn’t control them. When he got the dogs on the lead they just pulled him around,” she said.
People took to the Recorder’s social media sites to stress that it is the owners that are dangerous and not the dogs.
Havering’s wildlife crime officer Pc Anthony Kiddle said there is no issue across the borough with prohibited dogs and there is no dog fighting on the borough at all.
Read more:
Men sentenced for Collier Row ‘fighting dog’ that dragged minicab driver
Pit bull shot dead after mauling taxi driver in Collier Row street
Sniffer dog, Jazz, in operation that shut down Rainham scrap dealer
