Dogs seized after fatal park attack (From Keighley News)
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Dogs seized after fatal park attack
8:50am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News By Keighley News reporter
James McGrath with his daughter Lucinda outside their home in Keighley after their dog, Ted, was killed by two other dogs who also bit Lucinda when she was walking the family pet in Lund Park
A couple are facing prosecution under dangerous-dog laws after a pair of “pit bull-type dogs” fatally mauled a family’s pet.
Ted, an 11-year-old English springer spaniel, was set upon by the dogs while he was being walked by his teenage owner, Lucinda McGrath, in Lund Park, Keighley.
The 16-year-old also needed hospital treatment after being bitten on her hand.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman yesterday confirmed that both dogs had been seized from their owners by police following an appeal by 47-year-old James McGrath, Lucinda’s dad.
The spokesman said: “Officers visited the owners of the dogs involved in the attack and interviewed them under caution. They were reported for summons in connection with dangerous-dog offences.”
One of the dogs was removed from their house on Tuesday night and the second yesterday at about 9am.
Both dogs are understood to have been taken to kennels while police carry out further investigations.
The McGrath family were left heartbroken after they rushed Ted to an emergency vet in Bradford in a vain attempt to save his life following the attack on Sunday.
Mr McGrath, of Mannville Crescent, Keighley, said: “I was walking around the park at 7.30am yesterday warning people about the incident which happened with my daughter before the police told me that they had taken away the second dog. I am glad that the dogs have now been removed but I am thoroughly disgusted it has taken this long.”
Mr McGrath, a driving instructor, added: “Any prosecution will never bring back Ted – he was an amazing pet – but I am just expecting that the police investigate this fully and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) make sure that justice is done.”
Meanwhile a kind-hearted member of the public has contacted the family offering to replace an iPod belonging to Lucinda, which fell out of her pocket as she went to the aid of her dying pet.
Mr McGrath believes it was picked up by a member of a gang of youths who were in the park at the time of the attack. Now John Khan, a former DJ of Eccleshill, Bradford, has come forward with the offer of help.
Mr McGrath said: “It is a really kind gesture.”
Anyone with information about the dog attack should contact Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) on the non-emergency 101 number.
