Greyhound left fighting for life

Romper, with owners Marian and David Jones, at the vets where she is still being cared for Romper, with owners Marian and David Jones, at the vets where she is still being cared for

A COUPLE are appealing for information after a dog attack left their greyhound fighting for her life.

David Jones, 72, of Upper Stratton , was walking their 11-year-old greyhound, known as Romper, in Meadowcroft Rec at 11.45am on Sunday when a Rottweiler or bull mastiff-type dog appeared out of nowhere.

Romper suffered a puncture wound in her side and had a chunk taken out of her back, before slipping out of her lead and running back home chased by the dog.

David’s wife, Marian, 71, said: “We don’t know where the dog came from. “My husband kicked the other dog and got him off. Our dog ran away and this other dog chased him to our house. “I opened the front door and my husband was shouting ‘shut the door.’ This dog was staring at me and it had blood coming from its mouth from where he took a piece out of Romper’s back.

“He ran off down the road and I chased him. By the time I had hobbled down the bottom of the road he had disappeared.”

The other dog had a collar with a blue tag.

“It is a very thick-set, dark brown or black dog. The owner wasn’t around,” Marian said.

Romper has had surgery, stitches and is currently on a drip but vets are unsure whether she will make a full recovery.

She has been at Drove Veterinary Hospital, in Croft Road, since the attack on Sunday, and the couple have spent more than £1,000 trying to save her.

“If it had been a little dog it would have been killed,” said Marian. “We want to prevent it from happening to anyone else. Romper is so timid, she wouldn’t hurt a fly.

“My husband kicked the dog but he didn’t retaliate to him. It just seemed to want our dog. “We want to thank the vets for everything they’ve done, they’ve been really good.”

Anyone with information should call Wiltshire Police on 101 or the dog warden on 01793 445501.

Comments(26)

RichardR1 says...
8:33am Wed 5 Sep 12

Is there no end to these attacks, and some believe the law is strict enough.

It seems all over the town owners allow big and potentially dangerous dogs off lead to attack other animals. Indeed all over the country.

It may be a natural instinct for certain breeds, but on a lead and muzzled they can't attack.

Politicians have got to stop being airy fairy over this.

This dogs wounds may heal but it will be scared of it's own shadow now, as with the guide dog. Tragic.

Davey Gravey says...
9:28am Wed 5 Sep 12

Blame the deed not the breed(which as usual is unclear) laws do need tightening up for all dogs.

ChangeChloesLife says...
9:41am Wed 5 Sep 12

I'm so sorry to hear this. It broke my heart when I read this, especially as my cocker spaniel was attacked two weeks ago, had to have surgery to remove part of his ear. My dad was hitting him in the face with the torch but he still wouldn't let go. It was a cross with a staffie and an american bulldog. Hope Romper makes a full recovery. Sending love xx

PaulD says...
9:51am Wed 5 Sep 12

all dogs ought to be kept on leads at all times when out in public.

RichardR1 says...
10:11am Wed 5 Sep 12

Indeed PaulD, and the law should be made such.

Davey Gravey says...
10:33am Wed 5 Sep 12

What about the thousands of attacks on postmen? The stats wouldn't back up the dangerous breed myth. Your cuddly labradors-retrievers etc etc commit plenty of those incidents.

RichardR1 says...
10:40am Wed 5 Sep 12

The amended law already covers such occurrences.

http://sentencingcou
ncil.judiciary.gov.u
k/docs/Dangerous_Dog
_Offences_Definitive
_Guideline_(web)_fin
al.pdf

Synergie says...
11:09am Wed 5 Sep 12

I very much doubt the sentencing guidelines linked to above by Mr Feal-Martinez would be applicable to 'dog-on-dog' attacks. Chances are, they only apply to attacks on the 'person'. Are dogs considered to be 'persons'?
.
As with most legislation, it addresses the effect rather than the cause. All dogs should be muzzled when in public places, the 'cause' then being removed from the equation.

RichardR1 says...
11:48am Wed 5 Sep 12

Ignoring your bandwagon comment Synergie, that was my whole point, except in extreme circumstances dog on dog in public will still fail to raise police eyebrows but it should.

Let's just wait for the time someone gets arrested for protecting their dog by seriously injuring or killing another dog, which could easily happen.

I know of people who use hiking sticks that have a very sharp end for penetrating the ground, that could easily kill a dog.

As has been said, muzzled and on a lead and these incidents would be rare, instead of weekly.

Synergie says...
1:12pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Blimey, you've got some nerve accusing others of bandwagoning. Get over yourself Feal-Martinez

Amberflame says...
2:55pm Wed 5 Sep 12

PaulD wrote:
all dogs ought to be kept on leads at all times when out in public.
Absolutely agree, unfortunately, even responsible dog owners do not comprehend why not everyone want's their (he wouldn't hurt a fly) dog bounding up to them, knocking children over,chasing other dogs who are on leads, or even trying to grab your food while you are having a picnic. (all i have seen). I personally think that we should have designated dog only parks where they can run free, at all other times they should be on leads and some should also be muzzled.

tfidean says...
3:53pm Wed 5 Sep 12

ChangeChloesLife wrote:
I'm so sorry to hear this. It broke my heart when I read this, especially as my cocker spaniel was attacked two weeks ago, had to have surgery to remove part of his ear. My dad was hitting him in the face with the torch but he still wouldn't let go. It was a cross with a staffie and an american bulldog. Hope Romper makes a full recovery. Sending love xx
Hitting a dog in the face with a torch...sensible...n
ot...cruelty...yes.

Chefswindon490 says...
4:03pm Wed 5 Sep 12

This is gettin worse and worse and needs to stop!!!!! My dog was attacked at sims chippy 4 weeks ago and had puncture wounds to her leg and I'm dam it's the same dog bein allowed to do this time after time!!!! I hope romper is ok and pulls through!!!! This needs to be sorted asap!!!

dc the 2nd says...
6:53pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Animal attacks animal shock!

I couldnt believe my eyes this morning when I saw two pigeons fighting in the road, when will this madness be dealt with by the authorities. Then I got in and switched on the tv to see that discovery channel showing lions actually catching and killing zebra, I recorded the program so the police can arrest the lion involved.

Seriously though let's just remove all danger from everything ever, think of the children.

let's make sure all dogs are muzzled, on leads, given castors to wheel around on and made to say please and thank you. Don't even get me started on other "animals" you might see in a park, I got bitten by a horse fly once, still in counselling.

Chefswindon490 says...
6:54pm Wed 5 Sep 12

What a complete dick!!

dc the 2nd says...
6:58pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Only 2 exclamation marks? Without 5 I can't possibly understand your inflection old boy.

Chefswindon490 says...
7:00pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Possibly not but the priory have rooms available, **** end

dc the 2nd says...
7:12pm Wed 5 Sep 12

Name calling, solid argument there genius. Well done.

The Fibbing Bar Tender says...
10:30pm Wed 5 Sep 12

A nasty attack.
My greyhound pup was attacked by an alsatian, but also managed to run away.

Romper looks quite content in that picture. I'm sure she'll recover fully.

Pity certain people want her to be muzzled and feel it was illegal for her to get off the lead.

I wish her all the best.

I got clawed by a cat and another one hissed at me.
All cats should be muzzled unless kept indoors or on a lead.

Disco20 says...
12:46pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Animals only behave the way they do due to the enviroment in which they have been brought up.

I see plenty of "chav" types with fighting type dogs. Its not the dogs fault if they are mistreated.

Dogs will attack dogs as cats attack cats. Its the way nature is.

Its by no means nice.

We should have legislation on who can own a dog, not on whether they should be on a lead of muzzled.

Davey Gravey says...
1:36pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Disco20 wrote:
Animals only behave the way they do due to the enviroment in which they have been brought up.

I see plenty of "chav" types with fighting type dogs. Its not the dogs fault if they are mistreated.

Dogs will attack dogs as cats attack cats. Its the way nature is.

Its by no means nice.

We should have legislation on who can own a dog, not on whether they should be on a lead of muzzled.
Spot on

MrBstard says...
2:46pm Thu 6 Sep 12

Quite agree, muzzle and lead the chavs as well!

MrBstard says...
3:47pm Thu 6 Sep 12

I've had several pets over the years, the only time I was bitten was by my sisters retriever in my mums front room. I was only a small kid at the time and the dog had his eye on the banana I was eating.
All of a sudden without warning it lunged at me catching me on the head with its teeth. I ended up with two large cuts on top of my head, had eleven stitches, the dog had the banana and later on a one way trip to the vets.
He was a strange one, a complete scavenger, my sister got him second hand off a farm and I think he was mistreated previously. So, just goes to show it's not always the stereo type pit bull look alike chav status symbol.

I currently have a very large and playful one year old Husky, two cats, a budgie and several fish. I think the one most dangerous and likely to bite someone would be the bird. A strong minded and bad tempered thing it is..... takes after the wife!

Constant81 says...
9:36pm Thu 6 Sep 12

PaulD wrote:
all dogs ought to be kept on leads at all times when out in public.
Except for the fact that some dogs *need* to be ran or it's just cruel. Some dogs can't be exercised enough on lead, what would you propose we do about those dogs?

semitonic says...
10:24pm Thu 6 Sep 12

What's the point of a vicious beast on a lead?

Shoot the devil dogs in the head, followed by the owners.

Born n Bred Swindoner says...
10:46pm Thu 6 Sep 12

tfidean wrote:
ChangeChloesLife wrote:
I'm so sorry to hear this. It broke my heart when I read this, especially as my cocker spaniel was attacked two weeks ago, had to have surgery to remove part of his ear. My dad was hitting him in the face with the torch but he still wouldn't let go. It was a cross with a staffie and an american bulldog. Hope Romper makes a full recovery. Sending love xx
Hitting a dog in the face with a torch...sensible...n

ot...cruelty...yes.
Cruelty????? So if your out walking and your dog was being viciously savaged by a breed that just doesnt let go I spose you'd just tickle it's nuts then!

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