A WOMAN whose pup was killed by an ‘out-of-control’ Rottweiler in a savage attack has pleaded for more to be done to curb antisocial dog ownership.
Julie Foster’s 20-month-old Shih Tsu Buddy Jay was attacked by the dog, which was let off its lead, when her partner John Mann had taken him for a walk at around 5.15am on Saturday morning on Three Nooks Lane, Cudworth.
John tried to get in the way - while the aggressive dog’s owner reportedly stood by and watched, calling him a ‘grass’ for attempting to phone the police.
He took Buddy to the vet, but the dog had already died when they arrived.
The couple have been left distraught by the attack - but Julie, 51, said they’d since been left without anywhere to turn for support.
“I’ve phoned the police, I’ve phoned the RSPCA, but nobody seems to be able to do anything,” she said.
“I find it quite disgusting.
“It was a savage out-of-control dog and it should’ve been muzzled and on a lead.
“The dog came out of nowhere onto a public path.
“It’s going to happen again, to another dog or even a child.
“Its owner wouldn’t even take the dog off my partner, who was trying to get in the way to stop it attacking Buddy.
“He was just stood there, calling my partner a grass for phoning the police.
“He blatantly didn’t care. It’s lucky my partner didn’t get bit.”
Care worker Julie had Buddy since he was a puppy, and he’d regularly gone to work with her.
“We’ve taken Buddy for a walk early every morning as we’ve been working throughout the pandemic,” added Julie.
“I’ve had him since he was five-and-a-half weeks old, he was just a baby.
“He wanted to be friends with everybody, we never had any trouble.
“He wasn’t an official sensory dog, but he came to work with me and made people happy and feel alive.”
The incident has sparked further calls for stricter controls over dogs in public places, after a spate of attacks earlier this year led to discussions over a public spaces protection order (PSPO) to make antisocial dog ownership a criminal offence.
Councillor Peter Fielding’s wife and one-year-old toy poodle Freddie were attacked by a large black labrador mongrel on Pogmoor Recreation Ground in June.
The incident, which killed Coun Fielding’s dog and saw Linda’s hands left bloody, was the most high-profile in a series of attacks.
Barnsley Council’s ruling cabinet will discuss the issue on February 24 after a public consultation on the specifics of the order.
Julie said: “I’ll be having posters made and putting them on every door.
“Somebody has to own up - they can’t just take him and get away with it.
“It’s about time something is done, if your dog is vicious it should be illegal for it not to be on a lead.”
Coun Jenny Platts, cabinet spokesperson for adults and communities, said: "We send our heartfelt condolences to the resident and her family for their sad loss.
"We consulted with residents earlier this year with a survey for the public spaces protection order in relation to dog control and our findings and options will be presented to Cabinet early in the new year."
