UK & World News
- 23 July 2012, 21:12
Two Dogs Injure Eight In Hastings Rampage
Two men have been arrested after a dog attack that left eight people in Sussex needing hospital treatment.
Police were sent to Marline Road in Hastings, East Sussex, at around 8.55pm on Sunday after reports two dogs had escaped into the street and injured several people.
When officers arrived, one of the dogs had already been caught by members of the public in a dog crate, a police spokesman said.
The second animal was cornered in a garden by a dog unit, helped by other police officers at the scene, allowing the ambulance staff to treat those who had been injured.
Police believe three people received serious bites and scratches to their bodies but that their injuries are not life-threatening.
Five others received hospital treatment for minor injuries. All of those hurt during the attack were aged between 20 and 50.
The spokesman said he could not confirm the breed of either dog but that they were both being assessed in secure kennels in the South East.
A 22-year-old man from Hastings is being held by police after being arrested at the scene on suspicion of allowing dogs to be dangerously out of control, while a 21-year-old man was arrested for the same offence on Monday morning.
Inspector Sarah Godley, from the East Sussex neighbourhood response team, said: "This was an incredibly distressing incident for everyone involved and quick work from members of the public and officers at the scene meant that the incident was quickly brought under control.
"Firearms officers were deployed to the incident but they were stood down when it became clear that the unarmed officers were able to get the dogs under control safely.
"We are now trying to establish exactly what has happened and are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident."
Anyone with information on the attacks is asked to call Sussex Police on 101 quoting serial 1537 of July 23, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
what do you think?
David Wragg
It is about time that people keeping pets were licensed - many young men now see vicious dogs as a fashion accessory and some use them to intimidate victims in muggings.
Louise Smith
How I agree with you David, licence pets heavily. My comment about no dog is born vicious, the dogs learn it from stupid owners has been removed by orange... strange that!!!!
J R
David Wragg - I agree with your sentiment, you could not be more wrong in reality - as it is only the responsible owners who would get them licensed, and it would be impossible to police - it's not as if a dog has a license plate like a car ! So a dog licensing scheme would be expensive, ineffective and impossible to manage. I own dogs, and I think the solution is to make owners 100% aware that they are responsible for their dogs behaviour and that they will be punished for even minor breaches to a third party. A fine of £5,000 and a ban from keeping dogs would be a good start. And certain dangerous breeds should be licensed - just like you need a license to keep a tiger - and strict rules as to how it must be kept. This will go a long way to removing the ease at which these vicious animals can be kept.
Louise Smith
I do agree with you JR. But how can a ban on keeping an animal monitored. I can not see how it works though I wish it could be. Dog licence should be well over £100. It would stop idiots owning dogs.
Simon .
all dogs should be chipped. Set a cut off date and then any dog in public not chipped (hand held scanners are only a couple of £) immedietely arrest the owner, mandatory fine of £5k and destroy the dog. No exceptions. It may seem harsh, even draconian but owners of animals should be responsible or not allowed to have them.
Jan N Andy Oakley-Hills
The only way to control this is to stop over breeding of dogs. Make it an offence to breed without being fully licensed premises under strict control. Make the first offence fine a minimum of £1,000, repeat offence £5,000 and jail! Make breeders legally responsible to microchip and keep register of buyer, make buyer provide documentary proof of name.address. etc. Easy to monitor adverts for puppies and pursue the law-breakers, don't penalise the law-abiding and loving dog owners/rescue centres for the sake of the greedy, think themselves above the law, minority! Stop this misery, it has gone on for far too long!
karen henry
I'd never harm a dog but I would never own one either. I don't care how much people bleet on about training and such like. They are just too unpredictable.
Mick Daniel
Karen - you talk so much sense. All dogs have the potential to attack irrespective of how good or bad the owners may be. Dogs should be muzzled at all times and anyone with children should be banned from owning them
Angharad Fennell
Bit much to say people with kids should be banned from owning them?! As a child I was brough up with 2 dogs and they were both great companions and brought my childhood much joy! I now have 2 dogs and both are very protective over my children. When my partner takes the dogs for a walk and the kids go with him the dogs stick close to the children and won't leave their sides. Don't tar all dogs with the same brush! Yes of course there are attacks I don't dispute this. But there are also fantastic dogs out there who are loving and are indeed mans best friend
Adrian Wagstaff
The only safe dog is a Golden Retriever. It has the fighting abilities of a pet rabbit. Our Golden Retriever was completely undangerous. I don't agree with owning dangerous dogs, whatsoever and to be perfectly honest, I never liked our dog. It wasn't really mine. I wish they'd never bought it. The only really useful fact I learned from ending up looking after it was, animals are far more intelligent than people think.
Jenna Sullivan
Kill all un-chipped dogs! Ban people with children from owing dogs! A golden retriever is the only safe breed!!!! Your a bunch of uneducated idiots! It's people like you who should be banned from keeping pets. My daughter aged 8 is cuddling our German shepherds at the moment. Shall I have them put down for looking at her! Can we have some intelligent comments please!
Andy Smithies
q/ Shall I have them put down for looking at her! a/ yes!
Richard Gould
The first step should be the compulsory registration/chiping of all dogs along with the re-introduction of licences but this time more expensive. if a minimum of £100 was set then this would help fund the facilities needed to monitor and control. The second step is to ensure that all dogs listed as dangerous are neutered. Thirdly, all dogs should be muzzled when in public and owners must demonstrate that their dogs are secure at home. Furthermore, as parents are already heavily investigated if there is the slightest suggestion that they are at risk for anything else i.e. if a child is taken to a casualty department, then dog owners who are also parents of young children should also be assessed routinely to determine whether the children are at risk.
Eric Clutterbean
any dog biting any person should be shot this would remove the bad dogs from the gene pool and maybe make the thick owners more responsible
ali baba
I think if u r unemployed, smoke weed, have a Sony PlayStation, and can afford expensive designer clothes when you are on the doll. Then you should not be allowed to own a dog.
Rob Shaw
....Do you work for Sony?
Louise Smith
10:18am on 23/7/2012
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