An American bulldog who savaged its owner had to be sedated by a vet in the children’s play area of a park in North Yorkshire, with animal experts including those from a local zoo drafted in to help. Police were forced to evacuate the park to contain the beast and ensure public safety after the terrifying attack in which the dog owner suffered nasty several bites.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said officers were called to Thorpe Willoughby at about 10.26am yesterday after reports of “a large, aggressive dog that was biting its owner”.
He added: “The dog was eventually contained in a high-fenced area of a local park and the park was evacuated.
“Officers contacted a number of animal experts including veterinary practices, the RSPCA, local zoos and wildlife park to request assistance with bringing the dog safely under control.”
The dog, which was described as an American bulldog weighing roughly 110 pounds (50 kilograms) or almost eight stone, was eventually sedated by a vet and safely moved to a kennel.
The spokesman added: “Nobody, other than the owner of the dog, was injured during the incident. Their injuries are described as bite marks.
“Officers have thanked everyone who assisted in bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.”
North Yorkshire Police subsequently confirmed the dog was later euthanised by a vet, with the agreement of the owner, after taking veterinary advice.
American Bulldogs are currently illegal to own in the UK – but have been at the centre of several worrying attacks in recent months.
Last month in Nuneaton in Warwickshire last month, four-year-old Luna-Ann Forsyth was scarred for life after being bitten in the face by a canine which belonged to a friend.
READ MORE: US ‘superstrike’ bombers arrive at major RAF base in menacing threat to Putin
Mother Amy Hobson told The Mirror the dog had been locked away in a room at her friend’s house – but managed to get out and launched itself at her daughter.
She said: “He got hold of her face and got her to the ground.
“I was kicking and punching the dog to get him off her and I got my little girl off the floor, and called 999 straight away.
“They said they couldn’t get an ambulance out to me, it was going to be a few hours for them to get to me, so I got a taxi to A&E.”
The incident was confirmed by a spokeswoman for Nuneaton and Bedworth police, who added: “The child sustained facial injuries, which required hospital treatment.
“The dog has been seized and destroyed. Enquiries are ongoing.”
In October, 65-year-old Ann Dunn was mauled to death by an American bulldog belonging to her son at her Merseyside home, reported the Liverpool Echo.
An inquest last month was Mrs Dunn would often look after her son’s five American bulldogs – Bronx, Cairo, Panther, Rogue and Texas – and had been home alone with the dogs when the attack.
Mr Dunn, who was initially arrested on suspicion of being the owner of a dog dangerously out of control, but was later released without charge, told police his dogs had never been violent towards humans before.
However, he said Cairo and Bronx had begun fighting with each other and had to be separated, during which he was injured himself.
