A FAMILY’S French Bulldog was killed by a Staffy and a German Shepherd – with the owner then blaming her two-year-old grandson.
Little pet Bridget, one, was being walked by Christine Honeyball in Old Harlow, Essex, when the two escaped dogs attacked.
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Bridget’s neck was broken and she had already died by the time she arrived at the vets.
Following the incident on September 3, Christine, 62, then confronted the owner of the two dogs who said: “Take it up with my grandson, he let them out… he’s only two.”
Christine has reported the attack to police.
Her daughter has since been contacted by four other people who say they have reported similar incidents involving the same dogs to police.
Christine has even been sent Ring doorbell footage – seen by The Sun – of the dogs attacking a Rottweiler puppy minutes before Bridget was killed.
The grandmother was out walking her three dogs – also including a Sausage dog and a Golden Retriever, when the attack happened near Churchgate Primary School at around 5.40pm.
“They came out of the bushes, so I picked up Bridget as I knew she wouldn’t run away like the other two,” she told the Sun.
“She was obviously hurt and killed by the Staffy which pulled her out of my arms. It was horrible.”
Christine explained: “First it was biting her hind leg and it was that horrible feeling of I can’t do anything.
“When he got her out of my arms, he had her round the neck and just shook her. There was no playing, it wanted to kill her.”
Christine said her Golden Retriever was trying to fight off the German Shepherd, and fears she would’ve been in “big trouble” if it was just her and two other smaller dogs.
“It was trying to bite me,” she continued. “I was trying to get him off and he was snarling so I had to stand on his neck to get him off.
“I didn’t know at that point Bridget was already dead.”
Christine was supposed to be joining other dog walkers for their usual route along the river, and one of them called her to ask why she wasn’t at the meeting point.
She explained what had happened and asked if they could pick her up and take her to the vet.
Carrying Bridget to wedding venue That Amazing Place, Christine was then confronted by the owner of the Staffy and German Shepherd.
“She said ‘have you seen my dogs?’ I said ‘yeah, they’ve just killed my dog’. I had her in my arms and she said ‘it’s not my f****** fault’.”
Christine continued: “We took her to the vet just hoping there was a chance, but I knew she was gone.”
Later that evening, a friend of hers who had the owner’s number called her – and she didn’t realise Christine was listening to the call.
“She said ‘tell her to take it up with my grandson, he’s only two’ and laughed.”
Christine’s daughter – who did not wish to be named – said she has had four other people message her on Facebook in the aftermath claiming their dogs had also been attacked by the Staffy and German Shepherd.
What are my rights if my dog is attacked?
If your dog is attacked or killed by another dog you should make note of the owner’s details and report to the police and your local council.
If a dog is “dangerously out of control” then a criminal prosecution could be brought, with potential for a £5,000 fine and ban, according to Slee Blackwell Solicitors.
The offending dog(s) could also be euthanised and the owner maybe jailed in worst case scenarios.
However, such prosecutions are rare.
The civil law, meanwhile, allows you to recover any monetary losses, including veterinary treatment.
If you were injured in the attack yourself, the owner can be sued for compensation and in such cases you should find out if they have insurance and then take the policy details.
Any refusal to co-operate gives grounds for calling the police.
They’ve all also reported the incidents to police, including the owner of a seven-month-old puppy attacked minutes before Bridget at around 5.10pm.
“They are obviously out on the rampage looking to attack anything,” said Christine.
“They attacked a Lab a few weeks before, someone had to pour water into the Staffy’s mouth to get it to let go.
“They’re dangerous. They had to go through a school playground to get to me. She (the owner) should’ve at least taken the dogs to be put to sleep.”
Christine’s daughter went on to say: “It’s not just XL Bullies that are dangerous dogs, it can be any dog that’s dangerous.
“If their owner hasn’t got any control, it doesn’t really matter what type of dog it is.”
She said the owner of the Staffy and German Shepherd had even posted on a Facebook group saying: “My dog will attack anything the size of a cat, pick it up and shake it like it’s a toy. That’s just what he does.”
Christine’s daughter added: “I don’t know how she’s justifying a dog behaving like that. She’s got grandchildren.
“If it’s a small child and they think they’re allowed to pick up anything smaller than them and shake them until they’re dead then God knows what’s going to happen next. It is just like a ticking time bomb.
“You can’t have an animal that’s as powerful as that if you’re not going to train it into an animal that you can control.”
Christine said Essex Police said they would allocate an officer and then be in touch “in the next few weeks, which is about as useless as you can get”.
Her daughter said: “Four different people have reported these dogs and the police’s response is ‘we’ll come back to you…’ It’s disgusting.”
The force has since confirmed to The Sun that it has spoken to the owner and inquiries are ongoing.
Referring to her mum, Christine’s daughter said: “She’s devastated, obviously. To lose your dog is bad enough, but to witness that is just horrific.
“My mum walks 10 miles every day with her dogs, now she’s just anxious because she doesn’t know if it’s going to be a dog that comes out of nowhere like these two did.”
We have also approached the owner of the Staffy and German Shepherd.
Essex Police told The Sun: “We are investigating an incident where a dog sustained fatal injuries.
“We received a call shortly after 8.35am on 3 September reporting a dog had died after being attacked by two other dogs the day before.
“We apologise for the delay in speaking to the owner of the dog but an officer has now spoken with the family who own the dog that has died, we are investigating, and our enquiries are ongoing.
“If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.
“Please quote incident 218 of 3 September.
“You can let us know by submitting a report on our website or by using our online Live Chat service which is available 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.
“Visit www.essex.police.uk/digital101 to find out more about our online reporting services.
“If you would like to make an anonymous report you can contact independent charity @Crimestoppers, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111.”
See Christine’s petition about the incident here.