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Retired cop’s dog mauled in park by bull terrier
TRAUMATIC ... Dianne Broadhursts dogs, poodle Cindy and Highland Terrier Scooter were attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier in South Marine Park. With nieces Katie, left, and Emma Henson, who helped rescue the dogs.
A RETIRED policewoman frantically tried to fend off a savage stray bull terrier as it mauled her tiny poodle in a South Shields park.
Horrified Dianne Broadhurst, 61, kicked and punched the beast as it repeatedly bit into her pet Cindy’s neck.
Passers-by hauled it off, only to let it go before Miss Broadhurst could reach safety outside South Marine Park.
The bull terrier charged again, launching a second frenzied attack on her defenceless dog.
Cindy suffered at least 15 puncture wounds to her neck and a tea cup-size gash to her head, and needed emergency treatment.
Today, Miss Broadhurst told of her terror as she spotted the animal sprint towards her at 9.30am on Wednesday, near the Ocean Road gate.
And she demanded laws dealing with dangerous dogs are tightened.
The ex-Thames Valley Police officer said: “It was at the top of the hill and I was at the bottom – it spotted Cindy and began running at her.
“There was nothing I could do as it sank its teeth into her neck and wouldn’t let go. I was kicking it hard, but scarily it didn’t bat an eye, it just kept attacking. I was screaming for help, but nothing I could do would stop it. It was tearing at Cindy’s throat – there was blood everywhere, it was pouring from her throat. This is going to haunt me forever. I thought she was going to die.”
“Each attack probably lasted just a minute, but it seemed like hours. It was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever seen. This dog could kill a child. They are a vile breed of dog. I want the owner caught and prosecuted.
“The police say there is little they can do under the Dangerous Dogs Act as the attack was on another dog. That needs to change.”
Cindy, 11, was initially saved when two youths grabbed the bull terrier and held it. But they let it go before Miss Broadhurst could escape out of view, leading to another attack.
Her screams alerted her nieces, Katie, 20, and Emma Henson, 17, who live nearby and freed Cindy.
Police and South Tyneside Council’s dog warden arrived and removed the attack dog, which is being kept in kennels and has not been claimed.
Her second dog, West Highland terrier Scooter, six, slipped her leash and escaped with a bite to an ear.
Miss Broadhurst, who moved to South Shields after retiring in 1995, said Cindy spent eight hours at a vet’s surgery, which cost almost £300.
Staffordshire bull terriers are not banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Northumbria Police confirmed a dog was removed from the scene and that inquiries were continuing.
A council spokesman said: “A dog warden attended the scene at the request of police and removed the dog, which is being housed in kennels while investigations are carried out.”
In June 2009, Town Hall bosses introduced by-laws ordering owners to keep pets on leads in parks and cemeteries. They are looking to expand that ruling into town centres.
Twitter: @shieldsgazette
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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Comments
There are 25 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Dwavid
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:47 PMThis is such a shame I can only feel for the dog that was attack, I hope it has recovered okay. To safc73 if a muzzle law is introduced then it should cover all dogs not just a specific breed. 2 weeks ago my 14 month old Staffie was attacked by a large Husky type dog - the owner did not lead her dog, neither did she make sure mine was okay, she just walked off quickly. He had puncture wounds on his back and required treatment from the vet. To pithaspat you are talking rubbish, the only reason you do not hear about it is because the media sensationalizes any attack that is done by a 'Bull Terrier' type - which is a totally different dog to a Staffordshire Bull Terrier - I live in the Washington area and walk my 2x staffies along the lanes everyday. There is a bloke who walks the same lanes with his 3x Labs 2 of which have attacked my staffies. He does not call his dogs back, neither does he lead them. ALL DOGS NO MATTER THE BREED IF NOT TRAINED OR IF FEELING THREATENED WILL ATTACK Also kicking and screaming at a dog when attacking is just going to excite it further not stop it.
billy casper
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 08:52 AMsorry to hear the poor dog got attacked,,but dogs will be dogs,we used to have a toy poodle it had to be the most vicouse dog i have ever had,it used to bite any one that used to go near it, yes dogs should be kept on lead in public places,and you are allways going to have a stray dog on the prowl,the dog we have now is a soft gentle dog,he is great with kids and soft as brown stuff,but some times he can get a little excited when confronted by another dog,,,its in their nature
biggreenvanman
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 11:44 AMAll lovely comments... some good, some utter tosh! A dog is exactly that, a dog! Whether it be a loveable family pet or not, a dog could turn at any given moment! A lad a few doors up from us had a 'Staffy' for years until it suffered a stroke... when he brought it home after treatment it was was still a lovely dog, until it deciede to take a chunk out of his arm! All dogs, whatever the breed, should be kept on leads at ALL times, simple!
amstuck72
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:36 AMmy experience of dogs are that smaller dogs tend to be more aggressive! I had a staffy for 13 years and she was amazing - but that is because I raised her well. Regardless, no matter how nice you think your dog is it is wise to always be aware that regardless of breed they can turn - I would never leave my dogs unsupervised with children, and they are always on the lead when walked! I certainly wouldn't be taking my dogs to a park like Marine Park for a walk - you just cant be sure it would be ok! It's a shame that the poodle got attacked, but at the end of the day the dog has been caught and kennelled so it cant do it again (unless its irresponsible owner claims it and lets it out again)!!
cla5hb0y68
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:16 PMDogs should never be allowed off their leads in any public place. If your dog is the type of breed that needs a lot of exercise, your options are, find a secure area, away from the public, where it can run around freely, if this isn't possible then go for a run or bike ride with the dog running alongside on their leash. If a dog owner can't manage to give it the exercise that its breed demands, then the owner has been irresponsible in their choice of dog in the first place. The dog is blameless, it's the owner who should always bear full responsibility. And yes, I am a dog owner myself.
tonyt
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:15 PMpithaspat iv been bit by a cocker spanial and my wifes nanna got bit twice by her own labby so that blows that one out thev water. and safc73 muzzleing would turn a carm dog into a frightend more snappy dog
safc73
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 04:09 PMmaybe the time has come for the law to be changed, maybe certain breeds of dog should be muzzled when out in public areas such as parks etc especially areas where children are.
BoldonLad
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 03:58 PMWell done Not4me, at least one sensible comment here. After every story about a dog (do not care what breed or type) attacking someone or another dog, you get the same old rubbish ie "they are lovely dogs, great with children " etc etc. Can dog owners just get this throughbtheir heads, some of us would like to be able to walk about unmolested by their "lovely dogs", keep them on a lead and preferably muzzled, in all public spaces and I for one will then regard them as "lovely dogs".
pithaspat
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 03:49 PMhow often do labradors or spaniels attack? .,,,,EXACTLY,NEVER!.
not4me
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 02:15 PMAny dog has the possibilty to turn in an instant, be it a Bichon or a labrador. What needs to be addressed is dogs remaining on their leads in public areas (especially where children are). Not all dog owners are irresponsible, but some may be a bit naive towards their dog becoming agressive in a certain situation.. There is a very elderly lady who walks past my house every day with her 2 staffies off their leads. If they were to attack anyone, or another dog, I really don't think she would have the strength to control them. Yes, the dogs might be soft as cotton, but it only takes that instant. We cannot tar every dog or dog owner with the same brush as the scumbags using certain breeds as 'trophy' dogs, which hence has given those breeds a bad name.
tonyt
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:16 PMwith regards to hebburnlee i get were you are coming from but the fact of the matter is any dog can be aggresive regardless of breed but when a other breed does anything it gets no paper coverage .its always empersised STAFFY attack. infact if you read the article it once mentions staffordshire bull terrier once and 4 times bull terrier type dog. a friend of mine phoned the dog shelter and they confermed bull terrier type
Hebburnlee
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:07 PMYou get good owners and you get bad owners. Unfortunately, bad owners are more likely to own this type of dog (note, I'm not saying any of the commentators are bad owners, far from it) due to the perceived status and aggressive potential of a Staffordshire bull terrier. The same goes for Rottweilers - I know three; two are soft as clarts, but the third is highly aggressive towards humans and other dogs. It's owner is a moron who only has the dog to make up for his own inadequacies.
Donna78
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:57 AMI my self have two staffie dogs and they are very loving ,caring, loyal dogs I hate all these narrow minded people who give these dogs such a bad name !!! and as for mrs broadhurst saying they are a vile bread well your wrong !! my boy is three now and has not got a bad bone in his body its all down to the owner and how you bring a dog up !!
lorna5423
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 10:56 AMI totally agree with tonyt I have a staffordshire bull terrier and she's well trained and has got a fantastic nature she has grew up with all my children . When I take my dog out she doesn't bother with any other dogs. But you always get the little dogs going nuts and there owners can't control them , my son got bit in marine park also by a yorkshire terrier not on a lead but that's fine cause its not a staffie so all staffie haters need to get a grip
geordie999
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 10:28 AMmothers old staff was a smashing dog ..ex rescue dog ,badly treated (shot in head ) took six months to calm down but was a good friendly dog ...my Beagle lot more bother (mental).
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