A WINSFORD mother is calling for law changes, after her Labrador was viciously attacked by another dog in front of her two young daughters.

Ella, 11 and thirteen-year-old Lesley were excited to take new family pet, Willow, out for her first walk on Sunday, July 20.

But what should have been a happy occasion turned into a nightmare, when a pit bull-bull mastiff type crossbreed savagely attacked the three-year-old chocolate Labrador while walking along Lodge Drive.

“I was out in the front garden when Lesley ran over absolutely distraught,” said mum, Nicola Ryan, 42.

“I jumped in the car and shot down there. I used to live in that area and one of the neighbours had recognised my daughter.

“They couldn’t get the other dog off. It was tearing my dog apart.

“Both my daughters were frightened for their lives.

“It has ripped Willow’s front legs and ripped her tongue. Her front legs are a real mess. She’s had ten stitches and I’ve been left with a £1,000 vet’s bill.

“The dog’s owner can’t afford to pay it because he’s on benefits.”

Police intervened and the attacking dog was destroyed – but not before Nicola said she ‘went round in circles’ trying to find help.

“The police told me to ring the dog warden. The dog warden told me to ring the police. I then rang the RSPCA but they were busy. I rang the dog warden back and then the police again,” said the Crook Lane resident.

Nicola has now added her voice to thousands of others up and down the country that believe Britain’s dangerous dog laws need a serious overhaul, and police given extra powers.

Officers are not currently obliged to intervene unless a dog attack involves a person, or whether repeated offences justify action under anti-social behaviour legislation.

“The question I kept getting was: ‘did it bite you daughter?’. They weren’t interested otherwise. “That’s just wrong and I think the law needs changing,” said Nicola.

She added: “There is a problem with so-called status dogs. It’s only a matter of time before one of these dogs seriously hurt somebody.”

 

Nicola’s is the fifth dog attack that the Guardian has reported on in Winsford alone during the past two years. Many more are likely to go unreported to the police or press.

May’s Dangerous Dogs Amendment Bill enables police to prosecute owners whose dogs attack people on private property in England and Wales.

But many campaigners throughout England and Wales believe the law doesn’t go far enough and want the country to follow Scotland’s lead and introduce Dog Control Notices.

The notices grant local authorities powers to tackle all aspects of dog-related crime, such as illegal breeding and the ownership and training of ‘status dogs’.

Crucially, Scotland’s laws allow violent behaviour problems in dogs to be addressed at an early age – reducing the risk of later attacks.

In April 2016, compulsory micro-chipping of dogs will become law, in a bid to make owners more accountable.

What do you think? Email winsford@guardiangrp.co.uk or write to Guardian Series Newspapers, Theatre Court, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5HB