Tom Parker Bowles

I read the article and was appalled ,but nothing is being done to stop this .

I visit an elderly lady,
who was exceptionally kind to my mother.
She used to look after two grandchildren and their pet Akita full time.
The dog was dangerous and unpredictable.
People stopped visiting.
One day,the Akita almost savaged to death a neighbour's toy dog .
It recovered,but only just.
The Police were called ,but nothing ďone about it.
But I couldn't understand this lady's attitude .
She dismissed the whole event and said that the dog's owner was irresponsible walking past HER house !

Sago

Nannylovesshopping

tbh, he should have picked his dog up very quickly as soon as he spotted the other dog!

Victim blaming!

He should be able to walk his dog without having to worry about these out of control vicious breeds.

It is not victim-blaming. It is defending one's nearest and dearest where the police are unable to control dangerous dog owners.

I do not know whether or not Nanny's advice is practical or not however most dogs and dog owners are safe and need to defend ourselves against those who are dangerous.

I think a lot of pet owners would have pet insurance, but there will be exclusions and excesses. Claims through the fault of someone else are bound to affect the premiums, I wonder how many would be prepared to stump up in such cases. Owning a pet is very expensive these days from the pov of vets' bills from what I gather.

Of course it's TPB prerogative to not prosecute, but there will be dog owners maybe not as affluent as him who haven been left with a hefty vets bill, or worse still a much loved animal, so badly injured they have to be put down.
Tom Parker Bowles has said he had pet insurance, which is a good idea.

Thank you for the information regarding muzzles. I'm not a dog owner, we do have a grand dog. My love of dogs has always been somewhat vicarious, I've had several dogs in my life along the way, never one of my own, although I do profess cats are my number one. Nevertheless I like dogs a lot and am prone to engage with dog owners at times to ask about their various breeds, generally they like to chat. I know from my son, when walking his pooch he professes nervousness around certain breeds. My thoughts are for those who have had a dog who may have been badly injured in an attack, it does seem that the owner of these aggressive breeds so often just waltz off leaving the distressed owner and their dog to get on with it. Of course it's TPB prerogative to not prosecute, but there will be dog owners maybe not as affluent as him who haven been left with a hefty vets bill, or worse still a much loved animal, so badly injured they have to be put down.

TerriBull

I had not read the entire report. I knew the dog was a Cane Corso, they look massive. I don't agree all dogs should be muzzled, only those who may be unpredictable and have a meancing appearance. Not a dog owner, but don't dogs sweat through panting, so to an extent muzzling must inhibit that function and make them uncomfortable, the majority of dogs aren't the problem. I don't know why anyone would want to own a breed like a Cain Corso

Cane corso are not a very common breed, the only two I 've met were both gentle softies who took little interest in anyone else but their owner.

Jack Russels nickname , even among their admirers, is Jack Russell Terrorists. They are famously feisty and many will square up to any imaginary challenge from passing dogs.

A properly fitted muzzles does not impede dogs from panting. drinking etc. Racing greyhounds always wear muzzles when running at 35 mph.

Two of my dogs have been attacked by other dogs so we’re always looking out for potential threats. Even so when these things happen they happen so quickly it’s impossible to respond because dogs don’t approach you snarling, they will suddenly just turn and go for your dogs throat. Last summer someone walked past us with a dog on a lead and it suddenly turned and went for my partner; thankfully he didn’t make contact. A few years ago an off lead dog approached our on lead dog, turned away and then spun round and went for her. Don’t usually get an apology from the other dogs owners and, if they do say anything tend to blame our dog for being on a lead.

Georgesgran

Thank you .*Allira.*. Scooping up the dog shows its belly - a very vulnerable area to the attacker.

Interesting!
I never knew that

I feel really sorry for him and his dog

Thank you .*Allira.*. Scooping up the dog shows its belly - a very vulnerable area to the attacker.

Nannylovesshopping Tue 18-Nov-25 08:18:32

tbh, he should have picked his dog up very quickly as soon as he spotted the other dog!

Really? I know of someone who did precisely this, and had his leg badly bitten for his trouble.

Georgesgran

As a semi-professional dog trainer - DH’s advice was not to pick up your dog. It’s a natural reaction, but you run the risk of being attacked too.

The blame lies with the out of control animal and its owner.

As a semi-professional dog trainer - DH’s advice was not to pick up your dog. It’s a natural reaction, but you run the risk of being attacked too.
I would have thought that was obvious and sensible.

The blame lies with the out of control animal and its owner.
Of course it does.

Well said, Georgesgran.

Isn't = pant

TerriBull

I had not read the entire report. I knew the dog was a Cane Corso, they look massive. I don't agree all dogs should be muzzled, only those who may be unpredictable and have a meancing appearance. Not a dog owner, but don't dogs sweat through panting, so to an extent muzzling must inhibit that function and make them uncomfortable, the majority of dogs aren't the problem. I don't know why anyone would want to own a breed like a Cain Corso

Wearing an appropriately sized basket muzzle a dog can isn't, drink water and accept treats. Dogs trained to wear muzzles don't display any discomfort.

A dreadful situation and I hope that Maud makes a full recovery. His main aim was to get his dog to the Vet asap so did not stop to get details from the dog walkers. He must have been in shock himself and very scared for Maud.

My daughter and SiL have a Cane Corso. He was a rescue dog and was found as a stray in a terrible state. If they hadn't rehomed him - and were only allowed to do so after a very rigorous and thorough vetting process - he would have been put to sleep. He is a lovely natured boy who just wants to be around 'his' people and loves cuddles. Being responsible dog owners, however, he is always muzzled and on the lead when they take him out.

As a semi-professional dog trainer - DH’s advice was not to pick up your dog. It’s a natural reaction, but you run the risk of being attacked too.

The blame lies with the out of control animal and its owner.

Sago

Nannylovesshopping

tbh, he should have picked his dog up very quickly as soon as he spotted the other dog!

Victim blaming!

He should be able to walk his dog without having to worry about these out of control vicious breeds.

Because of all these out of control dogs, surely obvious thing to do is pick up your dog preventing god knows what…. This is what I do and I have a fat spaniel, just common sense, and new for me, never been called a victim blamer before…

I know of a rescue that has an XL Bully and she has a large muzzle that allows her to pant. I think dogs lose heat through their pads. When cooling a dog down in hot weather it's important to cool their feet not pour cold water over their bodies [which is what I used to do].

Sago

Nannylovesshopping

tbh, he should have picked his dog up very quickly as soon as he spotted the other dog!

Victim blaming!

He should be able to walk his dog without having to worry about these out of control vicious breeds.

Indeed, Sago.

To be honest, Nannylovesshopping, perhaps he didn’t see the dog until it was too late, plus an aggressive, solid, large dog approaching you at speed must be quite terrifying.

No, let’s not blame the victims here, but put the blame where it squarely belongs - with the irresponsible owners of these awful dogs.

I had not read the entire report. I knew the dog was a Cane Corso, they look massive. I don't agree all dogs should be muzzled, only those who may be unpredictable and have a meancing appearance. Not a dog owner, but don't dogs sweat through panting, so to an extent muzzling must inhibit that function and make them uncomfortable, the majority of dogs aren't the problem. I don't know why anyone would want to own a breed like a Cain Corso

TerriBull

Yes I saw the headline, shocking! Obviously not as shocking as a dog attacking a human. Smaller dogs are nevertheless vulnerable to these huge aggressive beasts, are they even legal? Should have been muzzled. Owners have to fork out astronomical vets fees when their pets are savaged by such an uncontrollable animal, the owners often walk off without offering any assistance.

Otherwise, lets stay with the facts of this incident.

Yes, large dogs should be muzzled.

According to TPB it was a cane corso, which is not a banned or restricted breed, not a bulldog breed, not an "AL Bully". CC can weigh up to 50 kg, not "10 stone " or "15 stone" as reported in tabloids.

TPB said he did not want the owner prosecuted or the dog destroyed.

TPB said his dogs vet treatment is fully covered by his pet insurance.

From what l've read the Jack Russell was attacked by a Cane Corso. Both dogs were on leads. Cane Corsos are not XL Bullies and there is no requirement for them to be licenced or muzzled. There are tens of thousands of large breed mastiff/bullies in the UK. Maybe all dogs should be muzzled in public places.

This happened on Kensington High Street!

As for picking his dog up - why? A dog owner should be able to walk a dog along a busy street without fear of it being attacked by an out-of-control, huge, vicious dog. That could have been a small child which annoyed the attacker.

I hope Maud will recover well after her ordeal.

Sago

Nannylovesshopping

tbh, he should have picked his dog up very quickly as soon as he spotted the other dog!

Victim blaming!

He should be able to walk his dog without having to worry about these out of control vicious breeds.

Yes, I was astonished when I read Nannylovesshopping's post!

If the owner can't control these vicious dogs they should not be allowed out.