Fatal Attack by a Staffordshire cross - trigger warning

[MabelMoo23]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9232029/Pictured-Woman-25-savaged-death-rescue-dog.html

I’m in the Midlands and this is local to me. For those who don’t want to read the link (it’s Daily Mail)

This poor poor woman. But also this poor dog as well. She found it dumped - a Staffordshire Cross - and rescued it and took it home to live with her. Who knows what kind of life had before he was dumped. I know the area of Birmingham where she lived and it’s not a a particularly nice area, in that I can well imagine that someone had it, treated it badly so it was aggressive and then dumped it.

She was asleep and the dog bit her arm, and died of her injuries at the house.

I can’t even begin to imagine the terror she must have felt when she woke up and she’d been attacked.

But this also serves as an example as to why rescues will not rehome to houses with young children, and why those people then shouldn’t try and get round those rules by adopting from abroad.

Any rescue, their background is totally unknown.

This poor woman. RIP

Absolutely awful. My heart goes out to her family

Sadly, this is why I judge anyone who has an attack dog as a pet, especially if they have children. I'm sure I will be flamed with 'deed not breed' etc, but I'd rather face a savage Chihuahua than the dog in this story.

This is tragic.

"But this also serves as an example as to why rescues will not rehome to houses with young children..."

I disagree. Very good rescues with large support networks will rehome to families with children - Black Retriever Cross rescue, for example. They will assess the dogs in the pound/relinquishing home, then ask for a foster care placement from their volunteers. They will assess their behaviour around animals of various kinds, dogs, etc. They will assess, alongside known history, suitability with children. Any hint of unsuitability will result in a 'no children' policy. Sometimes 'no children and no likelihood of visiting children'. Alternatively, they may say 'only dog savvy older children'. Some dogs will be suitable for homes with children.

"...and why those people then shouldn’t try and get round those rules by adopting from abroad."

This is a big worry for me. The number of Facebook adverts I see which say "X has escaped. They are a new rescue from . They are very scared and nervous, so don't approach, etc." and it makes me think they must have been rehomed without thought of security. Most of them are street dogs in their home country. BRX occasionally bring dogs over from Spain, but they are always very clear that they need at least 6ft fences, or secure field for exercise, etc.

@Lougle I think that’s a fair point, especially with older (12+) children - but for young children, I still feel that rescues say no children for a very good reason. I then they possibly go to far with the age and can be a blanket no children, even with teenagers.

But also this goes to the “adopt don’t shop” brigade who get very sniffy with those who gets puppies - if you have a young family, the rescue will just (usually) not consider them. For this reason. Leaving no option but go get a puppy.

We really really want a dog for our family, but I know that a rescue won’t consider us due to younger children so it’ll be a puppy. But I’m also biding my time as now is not the right time to get a puppy. I’m researching breeders so I can get on a waiting list, which may well be 2022 / 2023 which actually means my children will get a little bit older and that’s only a good thing

@MabelMoo23 I was fully expecting for this to be an SBT bashing thread. I have two so was prepared to read and scroll past. Thank you for not doing that.

As an aside. I bought my two from breeders. My two priorities were health and temperament. I'd never rescue for the reasons in that article. Rescuers can bash me all they like, but I prefer to know the history of my dog and you can only have that if you buy as a pup.

When the rescues have dozens of applications per dog, of course they will choose the least risky. And the younger the child the more risk, even in a dog that is used to children and never shown any signs of aggression.

DDog is from Portugal - her early history is unknown but we have had her for 6 months (she is now a year old) and she hasn't once shown any aggression. She did manage to escape once, because she out-smarted me in learning how to open the gate, not because I didn't think about fencing. That loophole is now closed.

I have met any number of dogs from overseas rescues on our walks, and all have been good with people and other dogs. The problem dogs I've come across are where people have fallen in love with a breed that is too active/strong/difficult to train but got a puppy anyway.

The reality is, some people are realistic about their situation and a dog's needs, and do the research/get help if they need it. And then there are those that don't. Where the dog comes from is a bit of a red herring.

@letsnotscaretheneighbours absolutely not. I think SBT’s are gorgeous.

I think the key here firstly is the fact it was a cross. Christ knows what it had been crossed with. Also the kind of life the poor thing may have had before it was found.

All we know from the story is that the woman was asleep and the dog went for her arm. For all we know, she may have been asleep on the sofa and her arm dropped down, startling the dog and it felt threatened and reacted, and this case tragically. The report says she died from her injuries so I imagine massive blood loss was the cause.
Obviously we will never know, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that what’s happened.

I know I probably sound incredibly snobby when I say “that area of Birmingham” and there will be so lovely people and families living there, but it’s also an area of high deprivation and groups of lads with aggressive dogs thinking they are hard are not uncommon.

So only knows what this dog was crossed with, but also I can only imagine how he was treated before he was dumped.

"DDog is from Portugal - her early history is unknown but we have had her for 6 months (she is now a year old) and she hasn't once shown any aggression"

So in 6 short months where there's not been much going on and no visitors etc to the house she's shown no aggression.

Ok. That means absolutely nothing to be honest.

@MabelMoo23 thank you. My two are lovely, but I know I'm biased!

I don't know Birmingham well at all. Makes me sad that a dog can be treated so poorly (or any animal or person for that matter).

Just awful

My first thought was that it may have been an ex-fighting dog, but who knows?

@TheSockMonster

Just awful

My first thought was that it may have been an ex-fighting dog, but who knows?

Actually dogs specifically trained and used for fighting tend to be ok with people, as when they are separated from the other dog after a fight they can’t have them turning round and biting the handler.

More than likely this was just an abused dog.

[quote letsnotscaretheneighbours]@MabelMoo23 I was fully expecting for this to be an SBT bashing thread. I have two so was prepared to read and scroll past. Thank you for not doing that.

As an aside. I bought my two from breeders. My two priorities were health and temperament. I'd never rescue for the reasons in that article. Rescuers can bash me all they like, but I prefer to know the history of my dog and you can only have that if you buy as a pup.[/quote]
Sorry but aggressive dogs can happen even from a breeder. I know we are not supposed to say this but some dog have their wires crossed in the their brain. I have a dog from a "responsible breeder" and he has psychological issues which are innate according to our vet behaviourist. Training and medication manage the symptoms but he'll never be a "normal" dog or even very friendly. We kept him because at the time we didn't have children and now he's older.

Very good rescues with large support networks will rehome to families with children - Black Retriever Cross rescue, for example. They will assess the dogs in the pound/relinquishing home, then ask for a foster care placement from their volunteers. They will assess their behaviour around animals of various kinds, dogs, etc. They will assess, alongside known history, suitability with children. Any hint of unsuitability will result in a 'no children' policy
Over what period of time though?
A rescue dog can take up to 6 months to show its true personality!
How can you properly assess in just a few weeks or months?

@Allington
DDog is from Portugal - her early history is unknown but we have had her for 6 months (she is now a year old) and she hasn't once shown any aggression.

Thats the way most of these tragic events start just hope you haven't got kids in the house with it.

She's had plenty of interaction with strangers in the park, adults and children, on and off lead. That's not her territory, but we've had builders in at home and she's been fine with them, also my 13 year old daughter rough housing.

We've had to take food and toys off her at times - all fine.

She's met numerous dogs in the park, and is friendly without being over friendly. She's felt threatened by bigger dogs at times and her first choice is to run away, if she can't she cowers.

She has good recall, next thing to tackle is walking to heel off lead.

So you are welcome to predict doom and gloom, and carry on with 'dogs from overseas rescues are a disaster waiting to happen' - you will whatever I say - but I think there would have been some indications by now if there were going to be significant problems.

Poor young woman, obviously a kind hearted soul.

It's also scary to think that a dog with that streak was roaming the streets. Whoever dumped it should be locked up.

"She's had plenty of interaction with strangers in the park, adults and children, on and off lead."

Jesus.

Such a sad story. RIP. I wonder about the dogs history, it says in the article the dog had been in a garden on and off for four years... Was it living outside that entire time I wonder.
My staffy X has a heart of gold and I don't regret rescuing him. The only dog I've ever been bitten by was a £35k Golden Retriever.

Was she was attacked during the night and discovered the next afternoon?

If so, this annoyed me:

source also told the publication that Ms Ladlow was 'screaming and shouting for help' and the bark from the dog was also 'incredibly loud'.

The source is singing like a canary to the media but couldn’t be bothered to alert 999 at the time?

She was asleep, on her own - how do we know what actually happened? The dog had been in the garden on and off .....that says a lot, the whole thing just doesnt add up but that wont stop the anti dog/anti staff/anti rescue dog brigade from getting on their soap box.

They need to have a gradual ban on these dogs. Neuter them so they cannot breed any of these types of dogs any more. Enough is enough.

@lockeddownandcrazy her being alone doesn’t matter considering the police investigate no witness murders and are able to piece together what happened to the victim. In this situation presumably most of the blood was in/near the bed suggesting she was attacked there and not elsewhere.

But this also serves as an example as to why rescues will not rehome to houses with young children, and why those people then shouldn’t try and get round those rules by adopting from abroad.

I absolutely agree.

"The only dog I've ever been bitten by was a £35k Golden Retriever."

Sorry, what?!

Reports say that it was crossed with something much bigger. Such a sad story, my thoughts go to the family.