A couple who claim their dog was ‘viciously attacked’ by another dog while out walking said the incident has left their beloved pet ‘nervous and petrified’ and in need of emergency treatment.
Ian and Carol Harling, of Rochdale Road in Bacup, say their beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Freddie was brutally attacked by a German Shepherd dog at around 3pm on Saturday afternoon (April 23) after it ran out of a garden on Cobden Street.
The savage attack lasted minutes but it left Freddie with a series of puncture wounds, which required medical treatment from a local vet. Carol said Freddie was treated with stitches and painkillers, and left ‘nervous and petrified’ following the incident.
READ MORE: Angela Rayner says she's worn trouser suit to ITV's Lorraine "to not be judged"
WARNING: DISTRESSING IMAGES BELOW
Carol, 58, who is a secretary, told Lancs Live she is now warning people to stay away from the area after other dog owners claimed similar experiences nearby. “My dog is as timid as they can be,” Carol said.
“We were just walking and I saw a dog at a gate which started barking, then I turned around and a German Shepherd was just there, just pinning my dog to the floor. “I was screaming get your dog and the owner came over and the dog went back to her. The owner never said anything to me and just disappeared.”
The couple, who also have a Corgi named Henry, say they have reported the incident to the police and the council’s dog warden. “It was just me walking with the dog,” she added. “It was a vicious attack; he just pinned him to the ground because the German Shepherd was quite a big dog.”
Ian, 59, a machine operator, said in a post on social media: “All dog owners beware stay away from Cobden street; our Cavalier King Charles spaniel was savagely attacked by a German shepherd that got out of a garden.” Afterwards, he told Lancs Live: “We took Freddie to the vets and had staples put in the punctured areas.
"He's a rescue and was very timid and it had taken a long time to get him to trust us and now we’re back to square one. The other owner didn't even ask how he was - just got the dog and went back in the house. "
Since sharing details of the incident, Carol said others have got in touch with similar encounters in the area, which is nearby to a primary school. Meanwhile, Carol added: “Freddie is ok, very shook up, he is very nervous to start with but this has frightened him to death.
“He has quite a few puncture wounds and some staple stitches, on plenty of painkillers. It has been such a shock for him and me. We’re not going to let it drop; we really do want something done because where it happened, it’s not far from a school, Britannia Community Primary School, and you don’t know whether he could attack a child. I do want something done about it.
“It’s a very dangerous dog, and the owner didn’t say sorry or anything, we took him to the vet straight away to Oakmount Veterinary Centre in Burnley. My message to other dog owners is just to be careful in the area, because we were just walking and it just came out of the garden. It's as well to warn people who've walked around there every day; I won't be going down there again.” Ian added: "If he can get to a dog, he can get to a child."
An RSPCA spokesperson said: “This sounds like a very distressing incident and it must have been terribly upsetting for the owner of the spaniel. Dog owners have a legal responsibility under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to keep their dog under control in a public place.
"This legislation is enforced by the police. We ask that dog owners be aware of this and to keep their dog under control at all times.”
Lancashire Police say a dog attack on another dog is a matter for the council rather than police. A spokesperson for Rossendale Borough Council said: "The council have been informed and are currently investigating the incident which took place on 23 April in Bacup. We are unable to comment or give further information until we have completed our investigations.
"If people have concerns about a dog they believe to be dangerous, or if their dog has been attacked by another dog they can report the incident to us on 01706 217777 or email us at envcrime@rossendalebc.gov.uk. If a dog attacks and injures a person then the matter should be reported to the police."
