Dog Attack

[ELL]

On my commute home tonight I was riding down a long hill towards a set of traffic lights in Rainham Kent. I saw a couple of Staffs off lead running down the road. Didn't pay too much attention to them but as I came to a stop at the light they were still running around and no owner to be seen. One ran across the road behind my bike and the other followed as a van was coming and got side swiped. He was fine just a little yelp and he was on his way again. Few looks round by myself and a couple of car drivers to see if owners were anywhere close but couldn't see anyone. I love dogs but have enough common sense to know not to approach dogs like this if i don't know them. Lights turned green and off we went but the dogs had gone down a side road and were now on the main road. I pulled over to see if anyone was with them or running after them as thought it would only end bad, saw them running up the road and about 100 yards away, I turn round and as I did heard the loudest scream I have ever heard. I looked back to see one of the dogs attacking a ladies Yorkie. She was hysterical a couple of cars stopped and a bloke was trying to separate them, I ran into my LBS as I was outside and resisted all the pretty bikes and told them to call the police, one of the lads went up the road to help out and look to see where the dogs had gone. As we were walking up the man from the car had got the Yorkie in his arms with the staff still full of rage jumping up and bit into his arm. Dogs then went off and the police went looking for them. I called the police to let them know what I saw when I got home and am still shocked by what I saw.



As I said above I am a dog lover but these dogs need to be put down and serious charges bought against the owners. My wife's 14 yo brother was attacked by a staff a few months back and had a big chunk ripped out his leg that needed skin grafts. He's fine now but had to go through a lot of pain because some people don't know how to look after dogs properly.

 

[Globalti]

I got nipped by a collie at Christmas - not the same as a vicious attack by a fighting dog though.

 

[ELL]

I got nipped by a collie at Christmas - not the same as a vicious attack by a fighting dog though.

Yeah I have been nipped before and it didn't bother me as I knew it wasn't vicious (didn't even brake the skin) but it still hurt for a couple of day. I also had a boxer and she was the best dog ever you could feed her treats between your fingers and she was so gentle never got anything like a bite from her.

 

[2PedalsTez]

I'm not a big fan of Staff's. I fail to see the appeal (each to their own I guess)

 

[smithy92]

Its not the breed of dog thats the problem, it's the owner. I own a beautiful little staff who wouldnt harm a soul (more likely to lick you to death). The dogs up bringing does more for its demeanor than it's breed. A well trained dog would have never attacked another just for the sake of it, it unfortunately sounds like you came across two dogs who have not been properly trained/brought up.

 

[Panter]

What a horrible experience, some people should never be allowed to keep dogs

Staffies aren't my thing personally, all the ones I've come across are just too friendly, always in your face, licking and leaping all over you but I think they're lovely dogs if you can handle the energy levels!
But, of course they'll always be exceptions.

 

[captainhastings]

Yep any breed of dog can be a menace just staffs maybe more inclined too attack other dogs and small children as it is in there nature I guess. But smithy92 has a point if the dog is bought up well and used too other dogs,children it can go a long way too avoiding things like this
I had one come out of a farm yard and chase me the other day going up a hill which gave me quite an incentive too get out the saddle. I just happened too be on my old shopping bike which didn't make it any easier.
From the sound of it that could have been so much worse

 

[smithy92]

I read recently that two of the best dos around children are staffs and english bull terriers, provided they are properly brought up with the children, it's down to their mothering nature and a high pain threshold!

However, as previously mentioned, an untrained/poorly brought up staff can be on the wild side.

Some people dont understand the commitment involved in owning and looking after a dog!

 

[Archie_tect]

Any dog can be provoked, my dad was badly bitten by his own dog which had been spooked by another dog chasing it.

 

[Saluki]

That sounds like operator error. If there were no owners to be seen, its their fault that all this happened. I am always saddened to see dogs out on the streets by themselves, whatever the breed. I am not a fan of Staffies, a friend of mine has one and he is puddled, soft as anything. He seems to be the exception to the rule.
It says somewhere, in the law books, that dogs must be kept under control in a public place - or words to that effect. I hope that those dogs had their tags on and that the owner can be traced by the police. Sadly if its a dog on dog attack, the police won't do a lot. If the owner of the Yorkie, when the Staffie bit him, had his skin broken, the police might look into it.

Well done on calling the police though. I hope that the owners are traced and prosecuted.

 

[mac1]

Its not the breed of dog thats the problem, it's the owner.

Isn't it always: pretty much any problem with domesticated animals is. This breed of dog might attract the type of people who aren't suitable to own them.

 

[Bman]

If a "chav" ever gets a dog, it'll be a Staff'....

 

[growingvegetables]

I don't like dogs. I was disgusted when my ex-partner got a dog for my daughter; and appalled that she got a Staffy. Damned beast. Fighting dog. Chav badge of [choke]"honour"[/choke], [chortle][bust-gut]"manhood"[/bust-gut][/chortle].

Hmmmph - I've had to swallow my rant though. Worse, I'm a ****** convert

It's a much maligned and abused breed of dog - brilliant around children; and trained sensibly, superb around most other dogs. Aye, there's a wee problem - she does have a nose for other people's badly trained dogs, and don't take no nonsense.

 

[TheBoyBilly]

If a "chav" ever gets a dog, it'll be a Staff'....

....but that doesn't necessarily make a Staffie owner a 'chav'. I have had two Staffs (still got the lovely Ellie, aged 12) and they wouldnt hurt anyone. True, they get a bit lively but everbody makes a beeline for mine when I take her down the pub. It's unfortunate but Staffs (like all dogs) can be trained to be aggressive. But the SBT's power and build, like that of Mastiffs and Rottweilers make them real loose cannons if not cared for properly.
My Ellie is more likely to be attacked, snapped at or chased by Jack Russells, Yorkies or Westies than anything else. I find it's the little 'uns that are the most aggressive.

Bill

 

[ELL]

I agree with whats being said here, Its down to the owners. My father in-law has a staff and he was so soppy, a really friendly dog. Unfortunately they are seen as the dog to have by the slightly less desirable of society who don't know or care how they need to be bought up.