AT least one person is attacked by a ‘status dog’ on the streets of Coventry each week.
And the Coventry branch of the RSPCA fears more dogs are being bred as weapons, giving owners a threatening status.
Figures obtained by the Times through the Freedom of Information Act show from January 2007 to June 2009, there were 123 reported incidents of someone being injured by an out of control dog in Coventry.
Of these 123, only seven arrests were made.
In 2007, there were 46 incidents of dogs being out of control - with two owners arrested. This increased to 51 attacks in 2008, when four arrests were made.
And figures up until June this year show 21 offences, with officers
arresting one suspect.
Records show Staffordshire bull
terriers attacked 15 people, rottweilers 10 and German shepherds 11. There were 66 dogs that were not recorded by breed, suggesting they may have been mongrels.
Glen Mayoll, manager of the
RSPCA centre in Coundon Wedge Drive, Allesley, said that he is seeing more dogs at the centre that have been bred to become status dogs.
He said: “Dogs are 100 per cent not supposed to be used as status dogs in any way.
“In Coventry some people have got dogs for the wrong reasons and I
predict that we will see more. For dogs to be used as a tool or weapon is just unnecessary.
“People are breeding status dogs in a bid to make a fast buck and we see the other end of this when the dogs are not sold.
“Animals in my view are com-
panions or for appropriate services, such as helping the blind or working in a police force for instance.”
West Midlands Police, which has the second-highest number of Dog Legislation Officers (DLOs) in the country after the Metropolitan Police, also
noticed status dog incidents, but warned not to give all dogs a bad press.
The force has 10 DLOs whose role includes handling dogs, being able to identify the pit bull type and offer advice and guidance to other officers who feel they may be dealing with a dangerous dog.
PC Keith Evans, a DLO based in Balsall Common, said: “Coventry has more of an issue with status dogs. Young people with pit bull type dogs see them as a fashion accessory that can be used to intimidate other
people. It is something which has grown in the past four to five years.
“The police work closely with councils and youth teams to deter this and try to raise the awareness of what pit bull dogs look like for neighbourhood officers and PCSOs.
“We must be careful that dogs do not get a bad press because of their irresponsible owners who get those dogs to resemble tougher ones.
If anyone owns a large breed it is an enormous responsibilty and they should be mindful of the impact they can have on the community.
“If somebody has a dog and they themselves think it could be a pit bull type, then they should not be afraid to seek advice from the police as there are ways of dealing with it.”
n What do you think? Have you been attacked by a dangerous dog? If so contact the Times by writing to us or email timesletters@mrn.co.uk.
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