Dogsey

A dog described as not liking other dogs by its owner was left tied up to a fence in an area where there were other dogs around while the owner went shopping. The dog, believed to be a Staffordshire bull terrier cross, then became involved in an incident leading to injuries to another dog and the mother of a two-year-old child.

Ms Shelley said that her daughter, Violet, was petting Dylan, an 11-year-old golden retriever, when she spotted the other dog and approached it. At that point, the owner, a young woman, appeared from a supermarket and Ms Shelley asked if her daughter could pet the dog. The owner reportedly told her that her dog was completely safe with children but did not like other dogs.

Speaking to a newspaper, Ms Shelley said: “When Violet leant in the whole demeanour of the dog changed. It was growling and it had its hackles up. Dylan got between us and put his body between the dog and my little girl.”

The dog is then reported to have “lunged towards the family”, catching Dylan and Ms Shelley's hands in his mouth, and knocking down Dylan's 63-year-old owner, Mr Palmer. Ms Shelley said she managed to prise the dog's mouth open with her other hand and the owner “fled with the dog”.

Dylan is being treated at Wood Street Veterinary Hospital in High Barnet after suffering nerve damage to his shoulder. His owner, referring to Dylan as a “gentle giant”, is grateful to Ms Shelley for freeing him. “Everybody loves him,” he said. “He's just so friendly and trusting.” He said the other owner should have had her dog muzzled and hoped she would come forward.