To be so sick of selfish dog owners...The seal pup in London

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It’s in the news that a seal pup has been mauled by an off lead dog. The seal pup now is likely to be put down.

Recent story of an off lead husky attacking lambs and sheep . A few months ago an off lead dog mauled a deer which had to be destroyed.

Numerous stories of swans being mauled by off lead dogs. On top of the numerous stories of children being attacked by off lead dogs.

Ffs why are people so bloody stupid and selfish! Keep your dog on a lead near wildlife!

I feel so sad for the seal pup . AIBU to think laws need to be tightened around off lead dogs?

I say this as a dog lover and owner .

@DianaT1969

There is that strange photo of the photographer trying to get the dog off the seal, but he has to do it while juggling camera equipment in his other hand. Meanwhile, the dog owner is standing back not grabbing her own dog, which suggests she is scared of the dog. Does anyone else get that impression?

It's also a surprise as so many social media comments immediately after the event made the assumption it was a 'chav' dog owner.

Yes, I agree that she seemed scared of it - it took a couple of looks at the photo before I twigged she was likely the owner given she was holding the lead. And if reported correctly she suspected it would attack the seal.

From the Mail - “Lawyers for Ms Sabben-Clare tonight said the RSPCA and police had told her no offence had been committed” - so she’s lawyered up already.

But gov.uk says “It's against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as: in a public place. in a private place, for example a neighbour's house or garden. in the owner's home”

She’s a QC - she won’t need to lawyer up...

A dog in this situation is very likely to redirect their aggression at whoever puts a hand in. I think you're meant to drag them away if possible by pulling their back legs as they are less able to twist around to bite.

@toffeebutterpopcorn

She’s a QC - she won’t need to lawyer up...

Did you read the quote? “Lawyers for Ms Sabben-Clare”

@Happinessisawarmcervix

From the Mail - “Lawyers for Ms Sabben-Clare tonight said the RSPCA and police had told her no offence had been committed” - so she’s lawyered up already.

But gov.uk says “It's against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as: in a public place. in a private place, for example a neighbour's house or garden. in the owner's home”

Given the vile things I've seen on social media, she's very sensible to have lawyers on side and have spoken to the police already.

I'm sure the police know who she is by now and she will be prosecuted if appropriate.

@DianaT1969

There is that strange photo of the photographer trying to get the dog off the seal, but he has to do it while juggling camera equipment in his other hand. Meanwhile, the dog owner is standing back not grabbing her own dog, which suggests she is scared of the dog. Does anyone else get that impression?

It's also a surprise as so many social media comments immediately after the event made the assumption it was a 'chav' dog owner.

I think a lot of people go a bit "rabbit in the headlights" in this situation. I've broken up a few dog scraps with my bare hands and I've never had any help from anyone else to do it.

To give an example - family member had taken my ddog out for a walk in the park and I was to meet them there. Just as I spotted them, a fairly notorious local dog (called, I kid you not, Nipper - we'd had a run in with it before, but family member had never seen it before) went for mine. Both my family member and Nipper's owner appeared rooted to the floor.

Likewise mine wound up a family member's dog and it all suddenly escalated quite quickly to a scrap (bit of fault all round tbh). I was the only one who stuck my hands in and separated them.

This is awful. It does however remind me of a time when a loose dog decided to attack one of the St James’s Park pelicans. Lots of bystanders tried to protect the bird but pelican was having none of it and the dog quickly realised it had bitten off more than it could chew!

Completely agree OP - a friend of mine was bitten by a dog today too.

Owners - keep your pets on (short) leads if you cannot keep them 100% under control all the time (unlikely for nearly all dogs).

As a dog owner it amazes me how relaxed people seem to be about allowing their dogs to roam around. Mine is nearly always on a long line as his recall is not perfect, but we often see dogs with much worse recall let off lead even in areas near roads and woods next to fields with livestock/pheasants. I would be terrified of losing my dog if it got run over or ran off, and would be concerned about being responsible for damage to livestock and wildlife. So my dog is nearly always on a long line (unless in very open areas well away from livestock or roads) which gives him almost as much freedom but is safer. But so many people don’t seem concerned about keeping their dog safe and walk along on the phone with their dog no even in their sight-it could easily be stolen, bitten by a reactive dog it pesters, bothering people/wildlife, pooing in the middle of a path which the owner won’t pick up etc. I just don’t understand how people can be so relaxed. I once saw a woman waiting by her car for about 20 mins-she told me she was waiting for her dog to come back and he always refused to be caught “and comes back when he’s ready”. The dog was nowhere to be seen and this was in a car park near a road. I don’t understand how people can be this relaxed and not concerned about controlling their dog.

I don’t understand how people can be this relaxed and not concerned about controlling their dog.

I don't understand how people can pay £5000+ for a living creature and not worry about losing it, or having it stolen or run over.

This really upset me, why are dog owners so obsessed with having their dogs off lead? Is it because they can't be arse training them to walk nicely on a lead? My dog doesn't get off as she is still young and her recall is less than perfect but the amount of people who walk their disobedient dogs off lead and let them run up to my dog is frankly abhorrent. My dog has a fear of black labs as when she was a little puppy one bounded up to her and really caught her off guard, scaring her shitless. The owners had zero control over it.

@abeanbaked

This really upset me, why are dog owners so obsessed with having their dogs off lead? Is it because they can't be arse training them to walk nicely on a lead? My dog doesn't get off as she is still young and her recall is less than perfect but the amount of people who walk their disobedient dogs off lead and let them run up to my dog is frankly abhorrent. My dog has a fear of black labs as when she was a little puppy one bounded up to her and really caught her off guard, scaring her shitless. The owners had zero control over it.

Mine walks fine on a lead but he gets nothing from it. He enjoys his off lead run with a ball. He has amazing recall. I wouldn't let him off if he didn't

It's really saddened me and I couldn't read the story or look at the pictures as found it to distressing.

I've a very small Jack Russell and he was attacked by a staff not on a lead when he was 7 months old.

I was absolutely in shock and just stood there screaming and did nothing!

Luckily some men who were in a beer garden nearby rescued my dog out of the jaws of the staff by shoving a snooker cue up the dogs bum! The dog would not let go despite the owner punching and kicking it. Was over 10 years ago and still haunts me.

All dogs should be on leads in public.

@Whatamess666

I'm part of a major city based wildlife photography group and in the last week we've had several photos of crows with endangered toads in their beaks, a magpie with a newt and multiple kingfishers and otters eating fish. It's somehow more upsetting when the perpetrators are our dog pals but really it's no worse. I watch my girl like a hawk and like to think I'd be able to redirect her but if I had a tragic accident I'd hate to be talked about online. It's horrific to think about, but such is life.

Wild animals catch prey because they need to eat! Dogs get fed at home, they are domestic. That is why it's more upsetting to see wildlife being killed by them. Not the dogs fault though it's totally the owners responsibility to ensure dogs are well trained or kept on a decent lead.

I am disgusted by this, makes me physically sick.

@Happinessisawarmcervix

From the Mail - “Lawyers for Ms Sabben-Clare tonight said the RSPCA and police had told her no offence had been committed” - so she’s lawyered up already.

But gov.uk says “It's against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as: in a public place. in a private place, for example a neighbour's house or garden. in the owner's home”

Even if a dog kills another dog the police aren't interested. In my experience they expect the local dog warden to deal with it but the council have limited powers. In terms a getting a conviction it is so low on their list in terms priorities- police officers words, not mine! The law is only good when it's enforced, it seldom is.

Yet police are happy to put sociable healthy dogs who have never harmed anyone to sleep because they are deemed to be pit bull types (an arbitrary category in itself) but don't get me started 😣

Even if a dog kills another dog the police aren't interested. In my experience they expect the local dog warden to deal with it but the council have limited powers. In terms a getting a conviction it is so low on their list in terms priorities- police officers words, not mine! The law is only good when it's enforced, it seldom is.

I have a feeling the pasting she will get locally, online and in the press will make her view a conviction as the preferable option.

@missbridgerton

She was frightened of that dog. Hence she was stood back looking awkward while others went straight for her dogs collar.

That's the bit I'm angriest about. She didn't even try and help that seal.

Bitch.

I don't think its that clear cut tbh. Lots of people freeze in shock and/or panic.

I've personally broken up a couple of dog fights where owners are just standing their gaping at them. I'd like to think they'd act if I hadn't intervened but who knows.

Whilst the poor seals death was unnecessary and should have been avoided the vitriol towards her when all the facts aren't know is pretty scary tbh. Her name and face are plastered all over the papers and goodness knows what grief her kid(s) if she has any are going to get.

The police Will investigate. I assume nothing will happen other than perhaps the dog be ordered to be muzzled when out if that.

Instead of lampooning this woman we should be campaigning / raising awareness of the need to have better behaved and more responsible dog owners.

I can't muster any sympathy for either her or her horrible dog. And I speak as a dog lover. Doesn't mean you have to like or forgive the vicious ones.

The absolute very least she could do now would be to make a large donation to BDMLR who tried to save the seal's life.

@WiganNorthWest there’s what looks like a chocolate lab cross who is let loose in Petts Wood (big National Trust woodland near Bromley) every Saturday morning. No idea who the owner is, and they have never been in view, or responded when I have yelled “whose dog is this?”.

It races round like a maniac. It jumped on DS4 on Saturday and flattened him, and scratched his face with its claws (he was walking along holding my hand, it barrelled up to plus from out of the trees and hit us from behind). I pulled it off him and it raced off into the trees again. Met it again an hour later, different part of the wood. It’s there a lot, always out of control, always unattended. Owner obviously lets it loose and wanders off to Costa while it tires itself out.

A dog ran over and knocked over my 18 months old, DH had to pull the dog away from her. It was awful, the owner was vile and shouted at DH for touching her dog. It was unbelievable tbh. She was convinced she was in the right and her dog could do whatever it wanted, not at all apologetic.

Luckily some men who were in a beer garden nearby rescued my dog out of the jaws of the staff by shoving a snooker cue up the dogs bum!

It's an awful story but I have to say I'm in awe of their presence of mind, imagination and resourcefulness in a fast moving stressful situation!

The dog's owner is a barrister who apparently lives in a 5.8m house. Hope she at least makes a healthy donation to the wildlife rescue.