Owner pleads for dog's life after savage attacks (From Daily Echo)
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Owner pleads for dog's life after savage attacks
3:57pm Sunday 29th January 2012 in News
“He doesn’t deserve to die.”
That is the plea from the owner of a dog which faces being put down, after carrying out a series of savage attacks in Southampton.
Paul Ward, who has owned Japanese Akita cross-breed, Samson, for eight years, said he was “very upset” about the incidents, which saw a victim as young as four years old bitten by the dog.
But Mr Ward, 50, of Laundry Road, in Shirley Warren, said the 14-stone animal is no longer a danger to the public and should not face the death penalty.
He is now living in a house with his pet and does not allow it to come into contact with members of the public.
He has even erected a 6ft metal fence around the garden to prevent Samson from getting out.
As reported in the Daily Echo, Mr Ward was living in a caravan in Chilworth, with his step-daughter, Katie Ward, 17, when the attacks happened. He had been evicted from his home, in Honeysuckle Road in December 2010.
“I’m very upset that this happened, but in my defence I did what I could,” Paul said.
“I put fencing up around the caravan myself and I was there 23 out of 24 hours a day with him. The only time I left him was to give my step-daughter a lift to and from work.
“We’ve had the dog since he was a puppy and he had never been a problem until then.
“He’s been well looked after, he’s been calm and he’s never tried to get out of the garden.
“I am a responsible dog owner and now that we are back in a house, he is not a danger at all.
“I will make sure this does not happen again.”
Southampton Crown Court heard how Samson faces being put down, after a t t a c k i n g three members of the public.
Bailiff Timothy Walker, 62, needed 37 stitches after being mauled when he attempted to evict Mr Ward from outside Chilworth Science Park, in February 2011.
And after pitching up on grass verge in Bracken Place, Chilworth, the following month, 17-year-old student Harry Barron was bitten on the hand.
Mr Ward said he would be “devastated” if Samson was put down.
“That would be so hard to deal with because Samson doesn’t deserve to die,” he added.
“He’s a good dog and he’s done nothing wrong, I feel.”
The court is due to rule on Samson’s fate in March.
Comments(40)
Condor Man
says...
4:12pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Stillness
says...
4:36pm Sun 29 Jan 12
TEBOURBA
says...
4:38pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Stillness
says...
4:44pm Sun 29 Jan 12
TEBOURBA wrote:You may be right, depends on your definition of good. Dogs tend to be good at being dogs, tree frogs tend to be good at being tree frogs and some humans think that they will be good at owning a dog. But there are most definitely dogs that need to be controlled. Not unlike a lot of humans.
There are no bad dogs only bad owners.
Maine Lobster
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4:45pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Stillness
says...
4:48pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Maine Lobster wrote:Ahhh........and what about if "any dog" was protecting his owner from burglars when it caused said serious injury?
Any dog responsible for a serious injury should be put down. This animal has committed four such attacks and should have been dealt with on the first occasion.
Lord Swood
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5:30pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Torchie1
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5:38pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Lord Swood wrote:I think a muzzle would have affected the owners standing on the 'hardness' scale.
The owner said he did "all he could", but why didn't he muzzle the dog after the first attack?
Peters567
says...
6:13pm Sun 29 Jan 12
If cross bred, as this one appears to be, they can be especially dangerous.
With a name like 'Sampson' this dog is a 'trophy' dog, intended to scare others.
I agree with others on here. Put the dog down before it kills someone.
No_Fuss
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6:18pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Young Greybeard
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6:23pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Sorry but it has attacked three people in separate incidents now, is anyone prepared to take a chance that the dogs next 'victim' will survive?
As a dog owner myself I say it has to go. As far as I am concerned 'one strike' is too many, let alone three.
Vix1
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6:31pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Harry Hill
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6:43pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Did they deserve to be bitten ?
Stillness
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7:03pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Harry Hill wrote:No, and no.
“He doesn’t deserve to die.”
Did they deserve to be bitten ?
Raven 81
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7:39pm Sun 29 Jan 12
The poor dog is only doing what it has been trained to do but in my opinion it is better he is put to sleep (bearing in mind he will literally just go to sleep after an injection) than a child or another dog dies because it is torn to pieces.
andysaints007
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8:19pm Sun 29 Jan 12
TEBOURBA wrote:OMG what an idiot you really are !!!
There are no bad dogs only bad owners.
Stillness
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8:31pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Torchie1 wrote:Is that on your "hardness scale" then?
Lord Swood wrote:I think a muzzle would have affected the owners standing on the 'hardness' scale.
The owner said he did "all he could", but why didn't he muzzle the dog after the first attack?
egghead65
says...
9:04pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Stillness
says...
9:07pm Sun 29 Jan 12
egghead65 wrote:Don't give it any more chances. Keep it under control.
dont give it any more chances.put it down,
Peters567
says...
9:33pm Sun 29 Jan 12
http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/news/article-
1304780/Vicious-dog-
attack-Eight-year-ol
d-girl-needs-175-sti
tches-mauled-horrifi
c-attack.html
Put-it-down-NOW!
Peters567
says...
9:34pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Vix1
says...
9:42pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Peters567 wrote:And this is the dog's fault how???? Why does the dog get punished for acting on instinct when the owner gets away with not looking after him properly?? Having seen my cat pass away by being put to sleep due to suffering in old age, I could NEVER advocate that to happen to a healthy animal, pets trust their owners more than anyone. The owner failed the dog, not the other way round!!
This breed of dog is classified as a FIGHTING DOG.
Huffter
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10:29pm Sun 29 Jan 12
tennisaint
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11:09pm Sun 29 Jan 12
freefinker
says...
11:22pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Vix1 wrote:.. Q - 'Why does the dog get punished for acting on instinct'?
Peters567 wrote:And this is the dog's fault how???? Why does the dog get punished for acting on instinct when the owner gets away with not looking after him properly?? Having seen my cat pass away by being put to sleep due to suffering in old age, I could NEVER advocate that to happen to a healthy animal, pets trust their owners more than anyone. The owner failed the dog, not the other way round!!
This breed of dog is classified as a FIGHTING DOG.
.. A - Because it has a track record of attacks.
freefinker
says...
11:30pm Sun 29 Jan 12
Huffter wrote:.. well said.
People shouldn't keep animals as pets.
Working country dogs I can understand. That's why we domesticated them in the first place.
'Pet' dogs, no thank you. Urban environments and our own lifestyles means their natural instincts are compromised to an extent that is little short of cruelty.
Torchie1
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12:43am Mon 30 Jan 12
Stillness wrote:I think you'll find it a fairly standard measurement on any rundown council estate. Try not to shoot the messenger.
Torchie1 wrote:Is that on your "hardness scale" then?
Lord Swood wrote:I think a muzzle would have affected the owners standing on the 'hardness' scale.
The owner said he did "all he could", but why didn't he muzzle the dog after the first attack?
Turtlebay
says...
6:32am Mon 30 Jan 12
bravebeth
says...
6:34am Mon 30 Jan 12
chapellady
says...
6:46am Mon 30 Jan 12
Ellwood
says...
8:06am Mon 30 Jan 12
jazzi
says...
9:05am Mon 30 Jan 12
I agree the dog should be put to sleep, 37 stitches etc 4 times, cmon !!!! The owner should also be banned from keeping animals.
If i was made homeless, id ensure my dog was fostered or kennelled !!
tennisaint
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9:18am Mon 30 Jan 12
Raxx
says...
10:01am Mon 30 Jan 12
*sigh*
badengk1
says...
10:12am Mon 30 Jan 12
Pixienot
says...
11:43am Mon 30 Jan 12
George4th
says...
12:38pm Mon 30 Jan 12
>
It would be sensible to follow the Swiss whose laws on owning a dog are as follows:-
Pass a 3 hour theoretical course with exam. Pass a 3 hours practical course
(Cost about £110.00)
Have a microchip chip implanted into the dog. Have the microchip number registered to your name.
(Pay for this too!)
Have a mandatory insurance for the dog (in case he bites someone)
Pay annual taxes for the dog (About £80 per year)
Pixienot
says...
2:54pm Mon 30 Jan 12
George4th wrote:I agree something should be changed but thats all a little OTT I think the muzzle idea would be alot less expensive for poor families with beloved pets (Who do behave themselves dont you think..
My view is that the dog should be put down.
>
It would be sensible to follow the Swiss whose laws on owning a dog are as follows:-
Pass a 3 hour theoretical course with exam. Pass a 3 hours practical course
(Cost about £110.00)
Have a microchip chip implanted into the dog. Have the microchip number registered to your name.
(Pay for this too!)
Have a mandatory insurance for the dog (in case he bites someone)
Pay annual taxes for the dog (About £80 per year)
badengk1
says...
3:32pm Mon 30 Jan 12
Pixienot wrote:This is not OTT. It will ensure that anyone who owns a dog has the responsibility and shows they are willing to show the commitment. £100 a year flat payment is affordable for anyone. Its only half a pack of pedegree chum per week. It will deter all the thugs who uses them as threats to people. There should also be a DNA sample with all chips so then when someone finds dog poo on the path, they can get a free sample kit from the vets, and the vets will find out who the owner is. That will stop people letting their dogs foul everywhere. before people jump on the band wagon of cost, it wont cost much as dog owners know they have a financial penalty if they dont pick it up.
George4th wrote: My view is that the dog should be put down. > It would be sensible to follow the Swiss whose laws on owning a dog are as follows:- Pass a 3 hour theoretical course with exam. Pass a 3 hours practical course (Cost about £110.00) Have a microchip chip implanted into the dog. Have the microchip number registered to your name. (Pay for this too!) Have a mandatory insurance for the dog (in case he bites someone) Pay annual taxes for the dog (About £80 per year)I agree something should be changed but thats all a little OTT I think the muzzle idea would be alot less expensive for poor families with beloved pets (Who do behave themselves dont you think..
Pixienot
says...
4:53pm Mon 30 Jan 12
badengk1 wrote:So now its gone to DNA testing dog poo haha.
Pixienot wrote:This is not OTT. It will ensure that anyone who owns a dog has the responsibility and shows they are willing to show the commitment. £100 a year flat payment is affordable for anyone. Its only half a pack of pedegree chum per week. It will deter all the thugs who uses them as threats to people. There should also be a DNA sample with all chips so then when someone finds dog poo on the path, they can get a free sample kit from the vets, and the vets will find out who the owner is. That will stop people letting their dogs foul everywhere. before people jump on the band wagon of cost, it wont cost much as dog owners know they have a financial penalty if they dont pick it up.
George4th wrote: My view is that the dog should be put down. > It would be sensible to follow the Swiss whose laws on owning a dog are as follows:- Pass a 3 hour theoretical course with exam. Pass a 3 hours practical course (Cost about £110.00) Have a microchip chip implanted into the dog. Have the microchip number registered to your name. (Pay for this too!) Have a mandatory insurance for the dog (in case he bites someone) Pay annual taxes for the dog (About £80 per year)I agree something should be changed but thats all a little OTT I think the muzzle idea would be alot less expensive for poor families with beloved pets (Who do behave themselves dont you think..
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