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The Boston terrier’s injuries from the attack |
Call for controls after ‘Champ’ survives attack
Dog suffers deep wounds from terrier
A FAMILY are appealing for dog owners to take more responsibility for their animals after their family pet survived a savage attack in West Hampstead.
Champ, a five-year-old Boston terrier, came “just millimetres” from death when a Staffordshire bull terrier set upon him in Kilburn High Road.
His neck was torn wide open in two places, narrowly missing major arteries. Vets were able to save Champ through emergency surgery.
His owners, the Stapersma family, of Messina Road, say police must clamp down on irresponsible owners.
Jem Stapersma, 30, said: “You can’t persecute the whole breed. You’ve got to target the irresponsible owners. The dog should be muzzled and the owner reprimanded immediately. A lot of young people are getting dogs and not training them properly.”
Her mother, Rjemke, had left Champ tied up outside while she went into a shop.
When she came out there was a crowd of people trying to pull the vicious dog off Champ.
Rjemke fell over as she tred to separate them and was in such a state of shock she could not get up.
The Staffordshire bull terrier’s owner, a girl in her 20s, fled the scene, but members of the public gave chase, forcing her to return and apologise. Another concerned onlooker drove Champ to the vets and he is now recovering.
Police would like to speak to the young female owner of the Staffordshire terrier but say they are unable to do more than issue the owner with a verbal warning as the dog was on a leash at the time of the attack.
Camden Council is offering dog owners free advice about handling and looking after their pets at two events later this month.
The DOGS (Dog Owners Get Smart) days, which also offer free dog- tag engraving and microchipping, will be held in Macklin Street, Holborn, on November 22, from 12-4pm, and at Swiss Cottage Open Space on November 29, 12-4pm. |
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