Tragic Incident Dog Walker

[barry1010]

This is horrific, it seems the dogs were spooked by horses and turned on their walker
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11631133/Cordon-Surrey-country-lane-woman-20s-mauled-death-savage-dog.html

I see too many people walking 5 or more dogs at once and I can't believe they are in full control at all times, or could control a situation. This incident will be with the onlookers for a very long time.

[drmorgans]

All too common sadly. The report says this baby was killed by one of the dogs her parents were walking, they had 19 dogs between them:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-64078112

[barry1010]

Oh good grief

[choux]

The police have asked the locals not to speculate.

[pixie374]

Very tragic- and sadly misleading... which is a shame as well. I have 5, but they are mine, I know them and how to read them. I would still never leave then alone with a child (who wouldn't know).
I have had dogs all my life- but wouldn't dream of walking 5 belonging to other people. They are (technically) more individual than humans.

[kuiperbelt]

From the article;

"The owners of dogs that kill someone can be jailed for up to 14 years or face an unlimited fine or both."

As the rightful dog owners were not in attendance when this tragedy unfolded, is it right to prosecute them?

[barry1010]

In the link that drmorgans posted it is the walkers that are being prosecuted, not the owners

[barry1010]

Ignore my last comment, it is not stated in the link

[barry1010]

It seems the parents were the owners of the dogs, husky types which they used for sled racing

[Canary42]

This is the unconditional love dog owners go on and on about.

[pixie374]

Don't be daft, canary- people often unconditionally love their children- who go on to be murderers. People are far more dangerous- and in the case of dogs- they are invariably put into n environment or situation they can't handle, by people who can't be bothered to read them. Always our fault.

[Redhelen72]

In the last 9 years I have had 3 different dog walkers, they have always gone out in packs of 4-8 dogs, I think the main difference is the dogs are walked on private lands.

[barry1010]

PP, you're confusing the two incidents. No mention of horses in the husky/baby case

[jno]

it just says the horsemen (or horsewomen, it seems unsure) "chanced on the horrific bloodbath", not that they caused it in any way. One of the dogs had already attacked another dog-walker moments before.

[chanel5]

I have two dogs. Both are placid and good natured. But I am well aware that all dogs, mine included, have the potential to cause harm, if they become stressed and frightened by their environment.
I would never, never trust anyone else to walk my dogs - but that is a personal thing, and I know that some people's circumstances mean that they need help to ensure their dogs get enough exercise.
But entrusting your dog to a person who thinks it is OK to walk several dogs in a large group is not a good idea.
Dogs in a group will quickly try to form a pack, and the more dominant dogs will begin to vie for leadership. This causes stress amongst the group, so if any outside event occurs when the dogs are already stressed by the presence of so many others, an attack can occur.
This tragic event is not an isolated case. There have been many other incidents where multiple dogs have got out of control and caused harm.
So awful for the family of the woman who was killed, and for those passers by who had to witness what happened.

[kuiperbelt]

/So awful for the family of the woman who was killed, and for those passers by who had to witness what happened/

Equally distressing is that the dogs will probably be destroyed.

[fitdarren]

I see dog walkers in my local park a lot. The sensible ones have no more than four, all on leads. The idiots let up to seven dogs run free (often large dogs) and I live in fear of them running over to me and my dog and attacking him. I feel there should be a law restricting how many dogs one individual can walk in a public place, and maybe this will be considered now after this awful tragedy.

And yet another inane comment from canary.

[pastafreak]

I've just read that one of the dogs...the Leonberger...featured on a program in 2017 about badly behaved puppies.
I'll see if I can find the link again.

[pastafreak]

Here's a link...not the one I read earlier.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11637121/11st-Leonberger-walked-dog-walker-mauled-death-appeared-BBC-badly-behaved-puppies.html