Key Points:
- A woman’s small dog was severely injured in a dog attack on Straight Road, Harold Hill, on the morning of Wednesday, April 2.
- The victim, Ashleigh, said the large dog “shook her dog like a rag doll” in the middle of the road.
- She was left traumatised, stating the attack was “so stressful” and that her pet now requires multiple surgeries.
- The larger dog was retrieved by its owner after a post on Facebook helped trace them.
- Ashleigh claims the owner initially agreed to pay vet bills but has since withdrawn the offer.
- The Metropolitan Police attended the scene and are investigating the incident as a civil matter.
- Anyone with information is urged to call 101 quoting ref 01/7334450/25.
A woman in her 30s has spoken out about the trauma she endured after her small dog was violently attacked by a larger dog while walking on Straight Road, Harold Hill, last Wednesday morning.
What happened on Straight Road?
At approximately 7.10am on Wednesday, 2 April, Ashleigh was walking her small dog when a larger dog, which she claims “appeared out of nowhere”, ran into the road. “Out of human instinct, I raised my hand and shouted at the traffic to stop,” she said.
The situation escalated quickly when the larger dog turned and lunged at her pet.
“The dog clamped onto him – he was screaming, I was screaming, and the dog was shaking mine around like a rag doll,” Ashleigh explained. “Nobody helped at first, they were scared, but eventually one man approached and the dog let go.”
She said the attacker attempted to come back again before she physically kicked it away.
How was the dog stopped?
Ashleigh said the aggressive dog ran back across the road where a man opened his car door and managed to grab it by the collar. The owner of the large dog was later identified through a Facebook post. Ashleigh claims someone passed her number to the owner, who then collected the animal.
What injuries did the dog suffer?
Ashleigh described her dog’s injuries as severe, requiring multiple surgeries. “I went straight to the emergency vets – my dog’s wounds were really severe,” she said. She added that she had to take out further vet loans after the other dog’s owner allegedly backed out of a promise to pay for the treatment.
“I’m up to my eyeballs in debt… It’s disgusting. The whole process has been so stressful,” Ashleigh added. “It has been traumatic.”
She reviewed CCTV footage from the scene but was unable to confirm the breed of the attacking dog. “It’s so big, it looks like a deer,” she said.
What have the police said?
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed:
“Officers attended the scene at Straight Road where a woman in her 30s alleged her dog had been attacked by another dog on Wednesday, April 2. One dog received minor injuries as part of the attack and is due to receive treatment.”
Police said the owner of the other dog had been identified, and a civil dispute was being mediated between the parties involved.
Officers are continuing their enquiries and are urging the public to come forward with any further information.
“If you have any information which may help, please call police on 101 quoting reference 01/7334450/25.”
