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Horror as pack of dogs savage pet
Wednesday 1st July 2009, 11:30AM BST.
A pensioner has spoken of the horrific moment she watched a pack of blood-thirsty bull terriers savage her beloved pet dog before turning on her.
The ordeal in Walsall was described as being “like lions attacking an impala in the jungle” and resulted in whippet cross Ben being put down because his injuries were so severe.
Grandmother-of-eight Georgina Hopson was with Ben in Coronation Walk in Walsall when at least six dogs, which were running loose, pounced.
They wrapped their jaws around the 11-year-old dog as 66-year-old Mrs Hopson tried desperately to free him. She then ran to friend Colin Hill’s for help.
Mr Hill, a 70-year-old grandfather-of-two joined the battle to free Ben along with the vicar from nearby St Matthews Church, Rector Colin Gibson, using garden chairs and even a walking stick to try and fend them off.
But the frenzied dogs would not let up and even chased Mr Hill into his home after he picked Ben up and tried to escape.
Mrs Hopson said: “They just came out of nowhere and once they had a taste of blood they just went beserk. Everyone was screaming, it was just mayhem and very, very frightening.” Rev Colin Gibson said: “I was on my way to my morning service when I heard the sound of animals fighting and human cries and so I ran down to see if I could help.
“These dogs were very persistent and it was very difficult to get them off. We tried to get into Mr Hill’s front garden and shut the gate but they just shoved their way in and also came into the house.”
Retired sales manager Mr Hill said: “The vicar and me and the other two men were treading on them, kicking them and doing anything we could to keep them off, but as fast as you got one off another one would come at you.”
The police took Ben to PDSA in Wolverhampton where he was put down. Now police are seeking a woman who was seen with the dogs.
It is thought the owner, who was also trying to stop the attack at 9.10am on Sunday, was bleeding heavily after leaving the scene in the direction of Upper Rushall Street. Anyone who can help trace her should call police on 0845 113 500.
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How many times do we have to keep reading this type of story, why not make a law to KEEP DOGS ON LEADS WHEREVER THEY ARE BEING WALKED or USE A MUZZLE, best wishes to Mrs Hopson, i have also been in the same situation
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It is the owner of the dogs that needs to be jailed. I am so sorry for Mrs Hopsons loss.
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This makes my sick to my stomach. I have a 7 month old cocker spaniel and he also has been attacked by a dog not on a lead. Why do dog owners let their dogs off the lead knowing full well they are not safe? I think that all dogs off the lead should wear a muzzle whether they are friendly dogs or not. It is a horrible experience to see your pet mauled by another dog.
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This is awful, I notice the owner has not come forward, why does anyone need so many dogs? is it a status symbol or something?, all dogs should be on a lead when out and about even if they are walking through woods or such places, I have been in Kinver Edge where people let their dogs off lead and let them run loose, its no joke when they come running at you, any dog can turn even the nicest of dogs! I am so sorry for Mrs Hopson, and what bravery from the nice people that tried to help.
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Owners know full well if their animals are dangerous off the lead. They should put theses dogs down.
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These dogs have obviously been illegaly trained to dog fight – that’s why you won’t see the owner coming forward.
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So sorry for Mrs Hopsons loss, what a terrible ordeal.
Our puppy has been bounced on, trod on and mauled on several occasions when we have been out walking with her. We always keep her on the lead, but no-one else seems to bother. It’s very frightening.
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Not the dogs to blame, but the stupid owners, as with any dog, they should always be on a lead, and why some stupid people have to have more than one or two dogs off a lead at the same time beggers belief. I have a Staff Bull Terrier myself and he is a great Dog, but requires very strong handling, and he must know at all times who the boss is. But even i would’nt contemplate walking 3 or 4 of any dog off lead, as anyone knows they are pack animals, and once the leader of this particular pack (not the owner)decided to attack, the others will follow. I feel very sorry for the poor ladies loss, and also once again the Bull Terrier Breed is tarnished due to a stupid owner who really should have known better..
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Dogs and owners to blame. Dogs because they have been allowed to be aggressive, and owners for putting up with it. Any dog who shows such aggression without provocation should be destroyed simple as that!!
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Lesley, I used to be a park ranger on Kingsford country park near Kinver edge and had to deal with the aftermath of a similar incident. A stupid couple let their new Rottweiler off the lead in the woods (a public area) having only owned the dog for about 3 days. It savaged a man’s spaniel which was on the lead and bit the man trying to save his dog. I tried to have the police involved and get the dog seized but I never heard back from the police so I presume they were unsucccessful. Dog ownership in the UK is a disgrace. It’s time dog licences were firmly enforced once more.
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My dog has also been attacked on at least 6 occasions, 2 of them seriously injuring him, and consequently he has become very nervous and can react ‘aggressively’ to any dog which looks similar to those which attacked…..We only walk him off lead in fields/woods near our home and immediately put him on lead if someone or another dog is anywhere in sight.
It is time a law was made whereby dogs had to be walked on lead at all times… this would be hard on responsible dog owners, but as usual the ‘few’ spoil it for others
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huh ! we already know what the police will do,jack all.the dogs should be put down and the owner of the dogs should go down as well.thers little law in this country for ordinary people,nor politicians as weve seen recently.walsall is becomng a ghetto.
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ANY breed of dog will be taken with pack instinct when there are 6 of them together without a sensible owner or more than one human with so many dogs.
Staffies are great dogs.,when owned by loving responsibile people, and are more likely to be the victim of aggression than the perpetrators, also beacuse of the type of ‘human’ that owns many of them.
I am white, middle class and own three staffies, all rescue and they never attack dogs because I allow them off lead one at a time, and put them on the lead as soon as they have said ‘hello’ to a smaller and weaker dog, not because they would attack, but because even play could harm a tiny or old dog and I respect the rights of other owners and dogs to walk in peace.
please do not blame the breed. Staffies are now the most popular breed in britain and have suffered for it just check the numbers destroyed because they are abandoned by thoughtless owners on the streets to fend for themselves,but the human is 99 per cent to blame and no one would recommend putting them to sleep would they?? its too easy to blame an animal..
incidentally in my own local paper this week there is an article about a greyhound killing two chihuahas because it was running off lead and attacked them… the only judgement passed was a hefty fine for the owner and dog must be muzzled and on lead in public.. no mention of the greyhounds destruction
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I feel sorry for Mrs Hopson. My dog was also attacked last year by a bull terrier at Valley Park. My dog was on the lead and I tried to keep him away from the bull terrier but it went for my dog. The owners had it off the lead. My dog was lucky to escape with his life, and the vet bill was £200. I think dangerous breeds should be banned, the rottweiler and the bull terrier are killing machines, not household pets, so why should people be allowed to keep them? Unfortunately licences and muzzles will be ignored by the idiot chav owners who buy these dogs precisely because they are dangerous. So ban the breeds altogether.
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Owners not the dog. So many think it is clever to let there dogs run, show aggression and ignore. I have seen these morons so many times. More policing and reporting required. Phrase ” He is only playing, all noise”
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im sorry to hear of your loss i keep my dog on a 10ft long line and call her to me when nr other dogs but ive had dogs bounding up to her n the owners say oh he/shes friendly but u never know also we took my nephew out 1 day, he hated dogs at the time, when a choc labrador came bounding up he started screaming n the dog went after his ball and all we had off the owner was u shouldnt bring him into a woods if hes scared yet wed took him where there was no dogs people have no thought and in this heat i saw 3 dogs tied up outside the supermarket which i think is disgusting
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I am truly sorry for the loss of Ben,
some of the comments on here are talking sense about dogs (whatever their breed being kept on leads, but th epost that says about Staffs and rotts being killing machines has upset me my pet dog is a cross of these breeds and she is so soft she has been attacked by another dog that had got into our garden last year and she is now scared of other dogs! I agree with all the people that have said it is the OWNER not the dog!!!!!!! I agree that licensing needs to be addressed with dogs in this country, it may reduce the amount of horror stories we hear!
My thoughts are with mrs Hopson, and well done to the kind, brave gentleman that tried to help. RIP Ben
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I agree about blaming the owners because they should know if their dog is aggressive to people or other animals. Unfortuantely i think that if an animal needs muzzeling in public then thats a serious concern for both animal and owner. Just a matter of time before something bad happens with the animal. Aggressive animals should be dealt with accordingly.
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No description of the potential owner, then?
What a terrible incident. It could also have been a child who was malled. I agree with the first post: keep dogs on leads unless in designated areas (most people do already anyway).
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