Puppy killed in ‘frenzied’ assault after canine ‘honed in like he was prey’ as proprietor ‘screamed’
WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Ted was being walked by his owner’s sister in Coulson Park in Lostwithiel when a lurcher-type dog sprinted towards them and bit the puppy
Ted, a six month old puppy, tragically died after being attacked(Image: Submitted)
A six-month-old puppy tragically lost his life following a “frenzied” attack by a larger dog in Cornwall. Little Ted was being walked by Sharon Hayes, the sister of his owner, in Coulson Park in Lostwithiel when a lurcher-type dog charged towards them and bit Ted around his middle.
Sharon recounted how she had taken Ted out around lunchtime for a tranquil walk, encountering several other dogs without any problems.
“We walked through there, we walked along the track down to the nature park, interacted with quite a few dog walkers and dogs,” she told Cornwall Live. “Everything was absolutely lovely.
Ted underwent surgery for seven hours but sadly could not be saved(Image: Submitted)
However, at approximately 12.50pm they came across a man with a lurcher-type dog. Sharon continued: “Ted was on the lead, we were walking along, and I saw this guy with a lurcher. No lead, nothing, and this dog just flew at Ted. There was no ‘let’s walk up to him and sniff him and play with him’, like dogs generally do.
“He just honed in like Ted was prey and just grabbed him and wouldn’t let go of him. Obviously, I got quite hysterical trying to get in and break things up.”
Sharon claimed that the lurcher’s owner only intervened when she began screaming for him to remove his dog, which had “snatched” Ted around his middle.
She said: “Eventually, he sort of jumped on the dog, held the dog and pulled the dog backwards. He didn’t put it in a headlock, but that sort of grapple from behind and held it long enough for me to grab Ted. And that’s when his dog bit me.
“I got Ted and just wanted to get out of the situation, so started walking away. I could feel he was still behind me. I initially shouted, ‘I need your name and address’. But my thoughts were just solely on getting Ted because I could tell he was going to need some assistance, veterinary assistance.”
Sharon revealed that the man continued to follow her, holding his dog by its collar rather than using a lead. She continued: “That frightened me even more because the dog could have easily gotten away. I screamed at the guy again to just stay away from me, leave me alone.”
Posters have been created warning local dog walkers about the incident(Image: Submitted)
Sharon rushed Ted to the vet, where he underwent surgery for seven hours.
“They were absolutely fantastic, absolutely fantastic. I can’t speak highly enough of the staff up there,” Sharon praised.
Sharon then visited Bodmin Hospital’s minor injuries unit to have her own wounds treated. She explained that the lurcher had bitten her thumb in an attempt to reach Ted, while Ted had bitten and scratched her in his panic.
She also reported the attack to the police via their online reporting system. She later informed Cornwall Council and was told the incident had been logged with the dog warden.
Unfortunately, Ted’s injuries proved too severe, and he was declared brain dead. Heartbreakingly, they had to say goodbye.
“I’m devastated,” Sharon said. “Ted was six months old and should have had his whole life ahead of him. Having him attacked while I was responsible for him and trying desperately to save him is something that I will never forget.”
Because Ted’s owners, Sharon’s sister and her partner, were in America when the attack took place, Sharon was forced to explain the tragic situation over the phone.
She said: “I had to make the harrowing phone call to my sister, because like obviously the time she’s in – where she was in America, it was an eight-hour difference in time.
“I wanted to make sure I sort of knew what was going on with Ted before I rang her, but they needed consent for surgery and things.”
The following day, Sharon went to Bodmin Police Station to speak to an officer about what happened and update them on Ted’s death. She said she was told an officer would be assigned to the case in the coming days.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We have been made aware following a report of a dog-on-dog attack in Coulson Park, Lostwithiel, on the afternoon of Wednesday, September 16.
“Sadly, the dog that was attacked died following veterinary treatment.
“Enquiries into the matter are ongoing.”
It wasn’t until Sharon made a post in a local Lostwithiel Facebook group that she learned multiple people and dogs had experienced similar incidents with the same dog.
“I was just overwhelmed, really, by the amount of people that this has happened to previously,” Sharon said. “And by all accounts, it’s all the same dog.”
In the same Facebook group, Sharon revealed that dog walkers have shared details of previous dog attacks in May and June, which she believes were reported to the police.
“I saw somebody yesterday that I warned, because the dog looked very similar to Ted. I said, ‘Oh, I hope you’re not walking over the park’, and they said ‘No, people are avoiding the area.”
She added: “But they have been avoiding the area prior to the incident with Ted. Some people put their dogs in cars and drive them out of Lostwithiel to walk them because of this particular dog.
“It’s so historic and it’s repetitive. The guy I met yesterday, £1,500 worth of damage to his dog. It’s happening again and again and again.”
Sharon said the same dog had been seen off its lead and unmuzzled later on Wednesday evening, after the attack on Ted.
She said: “What I’m really frustrated at is that this has been a time bomb ticking. From what I can see, historically, you know, it’s been building up to a devastation, and unfortunately, that was Ted.”
Sharon explained: “I really don’t want another dog or a dog owner or a child to be hurt.
“What has shocked me almost as much as losing Ted is what I’ve learned since the attack. After I appealed for witnesses, people in Lostwithiel began contacting me about previous incidents and concerns involving the same dog.”
Sharon revealed they’d had some posters printed to display around the park, alerting other dog walkers about what had occurred.
Sharon has appealed for anyone with information to contact the authorities.
She said: “Ted cannot be brought back, Nothing that happens now changes what happened to him. But if speaking publicly means another dog doesn’t suffer what Ted suffered or another person isn’t injured trying to protect their animal, then something positive will have come from an absolutely devastating situation.
“Until the authorities have properly assessed the situation, I would simply ask local dog walkers to be vigilant. If you encounter a dog behaving aggressively or dangerously, prioritise your own safety and your dog’s safety.”
