My Fuzzie was nearly killed by vicious staffie (From Southend Standard)

Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting ECHONEWS to 80360, or email us Click here for details »

Southend RSS Feed

My Fuzzie was nearly killed by vicious staffie

11:00am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in Southend By Christine Sexton

Suzanne Walters with Fuzzie

A DOG almost died after being savaged by a Staffordshire bull terrier in Chalkwell Park.

Suzanne Walters’s beloved 14-year-old lhasa apso dog Fuzzie was attacked as the pair went for a Sunday morning stroll.

Two men, both in their twenties, were walking two dogs without leads at about 11am when one clamped its jaws around Fuzzie’s throat.

The little dog only just survived yet police initially refused to investigate, saying it was a matter for Southend Council’s dog warden.

However, a police investigation was later launched and Leigh Inspector Brad Dickel personally called Miss Walter to apologise.

Miss Walters, 41, from Westcliff, recalled her desperate attempts to save her dog.

She said: “These two dogs came running through the flower garden in a place where they should not have been off their leads. One attacked my dog and I couldn’t get it off her.

“One of the owners came over and picked his dog up with my dog still in its mouth.

“He ripped Fuzzie out of its mouth, but he couldn’t hold on to his dog and it attacked Fuzzie again.

“It bit her really badly round her neck. I thought she was going to die.

“I managed to get my dog in my arms then it came for me as well. It was terrifying, but all I could think of was protecting Fuzzie.”

Miss Waters escaped being attacked, but her little dog suffered four deep bite wounds to her neck and went into shock. She was admitted to a veterinary surgery overnight for her to stabilise.

Miss Walters, a nail technician, added: “These dogs were uncontrollable and should never have been in that part of the park.

“These sort of dogs should be muzzled at all times and kept on a lead because that could have been a child being attacked.

“It will take me a long time to get over this.

“There was no apology from the owners. I was screaming, but they didn’t say a word.

“Now I have been left to pick up the vet’s bill of £400, but all that matters is that Fuzzie survived.”

Miss Walters is now pleading with the owners to be responsible and ensure the dogs are restrained when in parks.

She added: “I can never go back to the park with Fuzzie because she would be so scared and I will be too terrified of it happening again too.”

Insp Brad Dickel, from Leigh police station, apologised to Miss Walters.

He said: “The offending dog was quite clearly dangerous and out of control in a public place and the police will therefore now investigate the matter.

“I have personally made contact with the family to apologise and now appeal for the owners, or anyone who thinks they might know who the owners are, to come forward to Leigh police.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.

Comments(28)

Red Hand Gang says...
11:59am Wed 25 Jan 12

Everyone should have to have a dog permit.
It would be unfair to restrain my dog as he is obedient and friendly.
Most Staffs are lovely. In the wrong hands they can be deadly.