Dog attack on Wandsworth Common Post Reply

[::jojo::]

My 11 month old cavalier dog was attacked on Monday this week (about 10.30/11am) on Wandsworth Common. A black lab (or Lab cross) escaped from its owner (on the lead) and went straight for my dog - grabbing him by the neck and pinning him to the ground. It was aggressive and with intent and, judging by the owner's behaviour (screaming at her dog), not unexpected. She managed to get her dog off mine pretty quickly however my dog ran to me in clear distress yelping. There were no obvious wounds and it was difficult to tell if my dog had been hurt or was simply terrified. I took him to the vet who said he had been shaken and was going to be very sore for a few days around the shoulder and chest. 2 days later and I'm taking him back again perhaps for an xray as he is in very obvious pain and distress and not making much progress.

The owner I have to say was concerned and apologetic for her dog's behaviour. She explained he was a rescue dog and had never bitten another dog but just 'pinned them to the ground' and had to be kept on the lead. I assumed from this that the behaviour was of no surprise to the owner. Clearly in this instance keeping it on the lead wasn't enough and my dog has really suffered from the whole experience, not to mention the mounting vets fees - and as yet we don't know the full extent of his injuries. However this is not about money but about safety for other dogs. I thought I might get the chance to see the owner again on the Common and be able to have a chat with her, however I now realise that is probably quite slim hence my post on here. I really don't want to see any other dog go through such a terrifying incident that could easily have been avoided if her dog had been wearing a muzzle. The owner herself had 2 children with her aged about 3 or 4 and a toddler and as a mother I know how easy it is to be distracted so keeping it on a lead was simply not sufficient.

So if you are the owner of this dog - please take action to ensure other dogs - and indeed all users of the common - are safe. A lead is not enough.

This is an emotive subject and I want to re-iterate this is not a shaming exercise - which imho serves no purpose - but an appeal to take the incident that happened on Monday seriously and take the appropriate action. I would be happy to chat to the owner directly if she reads this and would like to PM me.

[Sw11_123]

Just read your post and wanted to respond.. Your reaction to a horrible situation is measured and considered. I see so many posts where people are shaming and shouting about something that has happened (& often not nearly as scary as this) and yet you've looked to help resolve the situation in a calm and kind way.

I hope your dog makes a good recovery and that the owner reads this and nuzzles her dog.

[Sw11_123]

Muzzles not nuzzles!

[Harbut]

Sounds like you both had an awful experience and you handled it really well. (I'd have been pretty mad to be honest, especially at the mounting Vet's bills).

If you know your dog goes for other dogs then you need to take responsibility for their actions. Train them, muzzle them or leave them at home if you can't give them your full attention.

Hope your dog gets back on his feet soon.

[::jojo::]

I've just come back from the vets and we found a bite mark that had got infected (it had pierced the skin but at the time there was no bleeding so was very hard to spot). The abscess was significant and all around his shoulder. 10 days of antibiotics and a possible procedure under sedation to further flush the infection out.

The vet agreed with me that this is a serious attack. She said that any smaller dog may not have survived. I made a big mistake not getting the owners details but I am more motivated than ever to try to find her to let her know before another incident. And I do believe she is not aware of how potentially dangerous her dog is.

Thank you for your comments and encouragement - please do leave a comment to keep this thread alive and well as it really will help this get seen by more people.

[liverbird in london]

This sounds like it was a pretty horrid attack. You said she had a 3 - 4 year old and a toddler with her? This rescue dog has almost certainly been previously maltreated or not looked after properly for it to react so aggressively and I'm sure it needs a good home. However for the sake of those small children, as well as other dogs that might cross its path, I hope the owner asks herself whether keeping a dog with this temperament in the same home as young children is a good idea. I wouldn't want to risk it.

[::jojo::]

yes the vet was concerned about that. I think the owner believes it wouldn't physically hurt another dog but we now know that is definitely not the case. It bites and is potentially dangerous. I have been contacted by people who were on the common at the time thanks to this post so I am really hopeful either the owner or someone who knows a family who has least 2 very young children and a rescue dog that is kept on lead will see this.

My dog is very sore and lacklustre and i am confident will make a full recovery but it has been a tough week.

[Broomwood71]

God, this dog sounds like a nightmare. It shouldn't even be on the Common - let alone let off the lead to attack other dogs. Owners must take responsibility when they have vicious dogs. Let's hope it doesn't attack someone's child.

[TillyandMoo]

My dog was attacked by a Staffie today along Northcote Rd. That dog needs a muzzle too but the owner accepted no responsibility whatsoever so I doubt the dog will be muzzled. I hope it doesn't attack a child next time.

[SydneyMummy]

I am very sorry to hear about the attack on your dog; I hope he's OK and that he recovers well and very quickly. It's a terrible ordeal to be put through.

If you haven't already, it might be worth also posting on Streetlife (www.streetlife.com). I have found that site to be very useful in providing tips and recommendations but also for alerting people to issues and for tracking down dog owners, an example being:

https://www.streetlife.com/conversation/28ir8uryt09hr/

I wish you all the very best and hope that you're able to find the owner of the dog.

[::jojo::]

Thanks Sydneymummy - that was quite a distressing situation (made me realise it could have been a very different outcome) but useful site to know about. I am fairly confident that given the amount of people who have seen this post that someone has recognised the description either of themselves or someone they know. The owner definitely seemed local, with a child of nursery age (given it was a Monday morning, possibly in afternoon school) and a toddler. I don't think the dog was a true Lab - more of a cross - it had wider set eyes and a strong wide jaw - but was the size of a lab.

I hope anyone who has a dog with aggressive tendencies and considers themselves responsible will learn from my experience and take measures to protect all park users be it dogs, children or adults from their dog. It all happened in a matter of seconds and probably would have ended in the death of my dog if it hadn't been for a fairly substantial halter which stopped the top jaw piercing his neck.

[Hattie]

I know that some people might think this is an odd suggestion, but have you considered taking the poor little thing to see a dog osteopath. Friends of mine experienced something similar, where the attack left their pup badly shaken but without visible injury and they visited a pet osteo. It helped to calm the pup down and recover from the shock. Might be worth a try.

[::jojo::]

Thank you for all your kind responses.

An update: my dog has made a full recovery and is enjoying the park once more.

I haven't found the owner however thanks to NVN so many people have read this post that I am hoping it has been seen by her or someone who knows her, assuming she is local.

I have discovered an amazing charity called Yellow Dog www.yellowdoguk.co.uk where your dog can wear a yellow bandana or muzzle to show other owners that their dog needs some space. This looks to me like a brilliant scheme - and could give a dog owner more peace of mind when taking a nervous or potentially aggressive dog out in the park and they don't want other dogs or children to approach their dog - or approach with caution. This helps everyone and can conceivably prevent an encounter that could easily end in the death of a dog or an attack on a child.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gxK2HUH0X0

[MumOfTeens]

Dear jojo

I think you have been incredibly reasonable considering what has happened to your dog and all the worry you have been through.

Thank you for bringing it to so many peoples attention and pointing out this great scheme from www.yellowdog.co.uk.

Muzzling your dog is the kind thing to do for them and everyone around them and nobody should feel they are being unkind or failing your dog in any way.

Everyone else please notice a muzzled dog and make sure you and your dog give it space and steer well clear.

[Harbut]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/d ... 04614.html The Evening Standard reported on the rise of dog attacks last night. Did you ever find the owner?