Dangerous dog on Peckham Rye

[Cassius]

Hi Emily - I am not a big dog lover, but have been horrified and saddened by your story and also touched by your obvious devotion to woody. If only all dog owners were like you......... I wish woody a speedy recovery and hope that you are able to get some kind of justice for what has happened to you both.

[legalbeagle]

Emily - a very good friend of mine breeds and shows and rescues dogs (at some points in time there have been over 20 dogs in her care!) and she has taken in some truly wretched little things who have suffered terribly. Please please take heart - they do recover. You will need lots of time and patience, lots of reassurances and cuddles, and lots of love, but it will happen. Take things slowly, in your own time, and Woody will let you know when he's ready to be braver again. It will come, don't lose hope. With a loving home it is amazing how well little dogs can cope.

[daizie]

I am very sorry to hear this Emily . A very similar thing happened to my terrier on Peckham Rye a short while back. I posted a thread on it, to warn others . The dog was the same as you describe but the owner was a different man in his 30's. The dog tried to kill mine and it was only another owner intervening that saved him. Again the owner never apologised or acknowledged my dogs bad condition ( partly denial, but mainly because they are sh1t scared of being asked to pay for vets bills). Such scum . Hope your dog recovers , PM me if you want to meet up daytime to walk the dogs round the Rye when Woody is better :)

Just to add, the police said that there was nothing they could do as my dog was off the lead .

[Beulah]

I'm not a lawyer but is there any civil action you can take against the owner now you have his details?

It may well be more effective than what the police or council are likely to do.

[Huggers]

This is horrible, poor Woody- but Tony Quinn, it's not that typical of dog owners as walkers in Peckham Rye will tell you. We are generally a civilized, supportive, responsible and courteous lot who keep an eye out for eachother.

As Woody was on the lead, maybe the police can do something this time daizie.

[first mate]

TonyQuinn,

Sorry, I must object to your implication that many dog owners behave in this irresponsible way- a bit like inferring the same of most car owners whenever there is an accident. Most dog owners do not behave this way, the irresponsible dog owner behaviour is down to a significant minority who make a big impact.

Please note that the dog in question is NOT a pitbull but an American Bulldog.

I would hate to see an example like this used to institute dog control orders across our parks- that would be a disaster for all us many, many responsible dog owners.

[TonyQuinn]

I am sure that most dog owners believe they are responsible and am equally sure that most actually are, but my experience in Dulwich has been fairly depressing. On our road, there are three dog owners. Two of the dogs are pit bulls/staffs, the other is a friendly little lab. The two owners of the pit bull/staffs rarely have them on the lede and let them defecate wherever they find---there's only so much dog pooh you can step on! So excuse me for thinking that standards have fallen. Pit bull/staff owners are more and more prevalent around the land not because the owners love dogs, but because of the hard-man status that is attached to them by ownership. I'm sorry for growing increasingly angry at dog owners but standards have fallen and the clear implication of this thread is that the attack by the said dog is not the first, and sadly will not be the last.

[emilydrab]

In reply to Daizie - it may have been the same dog with the man I saw's son. Apparently the dog is actually his son's dog according to another edf user. I'm going to take this as far as I possibily can - this dog has obviously attacked so many dogs and a child could be next.

[first mate]

TonyQuinn,

No I don't blame you for feeling angry, I feel the same- because dog ownership is being blighted by a few idiots. These are the same types who will blight our community in other ways, I think you know that, they are generally irresponsible and,I'm sure, cause problems in all kinds of other ways. What is significant is that they almost always own a bull breed, so perhaps we can narrow this down to types that are attracted to owning a bull breed for the wrong reasons. As you say, in your street the lab owner does not fall into the category of bad dog ownership.

To make a rather clunky analogy, there are a fair few boy racers who drive cars and vans extremely recklessly and dangerously- you can often recognise them by the type of car they drive but we would not tar all car owners as being irrepsonsible and of the same ilk.

I do feel for those responsible owners who have well trained and socialised bull breeds- even I will make assumptions before I get to know them.

All I'm saying is that for many of us dog ownership is a joy and a hobby- getting out for a good walk is part of that. I would hate to see us getting penalised because of the feckless few.

[daizie]

Emily it was at the end of this thread 'Cat killed by dog on Oakhurst Grove - 22 November (Lounged)' Sorry I dont know how to post the Link .

[TonyQuinn]

I agree with you wholeheartedly FM (can i call you FM?). I do think that it's up to you responsible dog owners to do your best to make the selfish few more considerate. But even then I don't hold up much hope that they will mend their ways.

[first mate]

Here's a link to a picture of an American Bulldog:

http://europuppyblog.com/media/40/american_bulldog.jpg

[Tipper]

Hi Emily,

I was really sad to hear your news about Woody. I wish him all the luck with his recovery. I have a small jack russell that I walk every day in Peckham Rye park so I will keep a look out. I will pass on any sightings or info.

All the best! Thinking of Woody.

Alison x

[Huggers]

blimey first mate! I think Ive seen this dog- but I also think there might be more than one that looks like this so we must be careful not to get the wrong one. Ive seen one like this that is walked often by two men. .

[Lollipop]

Spot on First Mate - that is the dog. Next time I will get a picture of the owner too!

[Catalyst]

I've seen an American Bull with similar markings to those described at the start of this thread around Nunhead/Telegraph Hill on various occasions. For a while it was accompanied by a Cavalier King Charles.

Owner was white, mid-late 30's.

I'm not saying it's the same dog, just making an observation.

[first mate]

Sorry, I must make clear to all that the link is obviously NOT the dog under discussion (not least because the one in the picture is tan and white not black and white) but I included it simply in order to show what kind of dog we are talking about. Size is one of the things that would differentiate this breed (American Bulldog) from a Staff or Pitbull. The Staff is a lot smaller.

The Pitbull is a lighter build and smaller than this type of American Bulldog but taller than a Staff.

Remember also that unlike the American Bulldog Staffs and Pitbulls do not make good guard dogs and so, contrary to popular belief, are likely to be more trustworthy around people- though not other dogs.

Finally, there are two sizes of American Bulldog, one is shorter and squatter- the type under discussion is the taller version.

Please remember too that an American Bulldog is not a banned or illegal breed but rather like a Rottweiler, another large molosser type with a guard instinct, it needs careful handling, training and control. Absolutely not a dog for beginners- I'd say the same of all Mastiff and Bully breeds, I'd also say it about other breed types with a strong guard instinct like Dobermanns or German Shepherds- you've got to know what you are doing and know your breed. A person earlier mentioned about their greyhound- even these gentle souls can and will chase small dogs and cats they consider prey. But we seldom hear of such cases because they are not a breed that attracts irresponsible ownership.

[simonl]

Hi there,

Must admit I have taken my retriever away from Peckham park after a few instances of other owners not being able to control their dogs last year and now walk the streets with him, but at times that is not safe because of certain owners not having thier dogs leased!

Emily hope your dog is on the mend now and back home.

[cassidy]

I am a responsible dog owner and am equally sure that most owners actually are. i have two of the dogs who are staffs and i have had no problems with my animals attacking any other dog in fact one of my dogs has been attacked himself. My dogs are friendly and well socialized and can happily play in the park with other dogs. Not all owners of bull breeds are irresponsible despite what you may think most of us do have them on the leads and we do clean up their pooh.

Most of us love our dogs,not because of the hard-man status that is attached to them but because they are loyal and loving dogs. And Battersea have in the past successfully rehomed more staffies then any other breed taking from the irresponible unfit owners and giving them to responsible ones, which is where one of mine came from.

Like everyone else i am totally shocked and disgusted by the actions of the owner and dog that attacked little Woody the owner is clearly an unfit owner and should be held responsible before another attack but everyone should remember the dog involved was NOT a staff and NOT a pitbull and therefore this incident should not be turned in to a witch hunt for all bull breeds as the actions of one are not the actions of them all and ther are many good dogs and responible dog owners out there.

[PeckhamRose]

What Cassidy said.

I know quite a few staffie owners and those dogs are the softest and well loved, because their owners care.

Actually - the same can be said of kids - sorry to make that link, but it's true!

I love dogs and am always asking people with dogs I see in the park, "Can I photo your dog?"

The very very few dogs I see who appear to be with irresponsible owners are a tiny minority.

The guy who wrote way above happens to live in a street with 2 irresponsible owners, so his experience is skewed.

When I was a kid I walked my dog for miles around the coast of Thanet. Usually off lead. Me and my dog were best mates. Now, one is NOT allowed to walk ones dog on the beach there at all. Even on a lead. How sad is that.

So don't let that sort of reactionary nonsense happen on our parks!

[The Nappy Lady]

Emily,

We wish Woody a full and speedy recovery, and hope to see both of you back in the park soon. Poor little chap.

As others have said, it is such a shame that a few irresponsible owners ruin it for all of us.

Molly & Coco the Irish Water Spaniel

(both very friendly, though Coco is prone to stick her nose in your crotch to say hello......I stick with shaking hands!!).

[Jeremy]

PeckhamRose Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The guy who wrote way above happens to live in a

> street with 2 irresponsible owners, so his

> experience is skewed.

I'm not sure I agree with this, where I live there are plenty of irresponsible owners of bull breed dogs, who let them run around pavements and grass verges without a lead. Mainly young guys - I doubt they own them because of their loyal and loving qualities. Far from a skewed perspective, I think it's becoming increasingly common.

I think there should be much greater control over who can own these animals - for the sake of the public and the dogs themselves. I also think they should be muzzled when not on a leash.

[Brendan]

Well you could argue that the very act of intentionally seeking out an aggressive dog to own is a demonstration that the person doesn?t have the right type of personality to own an aggressive dog.

[daizie]

You could be right there Brendan

[m&m fairy]

We all send our love to Woody.

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