Truro dog attack teenage girl scarred by roaming Alsatians

Keely Woods says one of the dogs “attacked” her 14-year-old daughter last summer.

Keely says she has footage and images of the dogs running wild on the estate and getting in people’s gardens as recently as yesterday (Sunday, January 28), which she has sent to the police.

The scratch marks on Lola's arm have scarred (Image: Keely Woods)

We reported last week that pensioner Jan Salmon’s elderly Westies had a narrow escape when the two Alsatians jumped over a fence and chased them. Jan managed to get her dogs indoors before anything serious happened.

Neighbours told us how the dogs are kept in the council house for up to 30 hours at a time, and their barking and crying is keeping residents awake all night.

Keely says her daughter still has scars on her arm from when one of the dogs jumped up, ripped her T-shirt and scratched her last June. She said Lola was walking from her home to the estate’s shop when the Alsatian jumped over a gate.

“It’s a blind corner and Lola’s gone to go around the kissing gate, the dog came around the corner and jumped over the metal gate. Lola and her friend have backed off and it’s attacked Lola.

“Lola wouldn’t have stroked the dog as she’s got a skin condition and serious health issues. We have a labrador but she wouldn’t touch another dog. The owner told me the dog was only trying to play. I saw Janet, the owner of the two Westies who were attacked, last week and she was told by the owner they were only trying to play too. It’s what she tells everyone,” said Keely.

She added: “They run around wild – people bang on the owner’s door but she won’t answer it. It’s got to stop now. The police have told her the dogs should be muzzled when she feels it’s appropriate, but when’s appropriate? When they attack a child?”

Lola's arm soon after one of the Alsatians jumped up and scratched her (Image: Keely Woods)

Keely showed us communication from PC Luke Marder who investigated last summer’s incident, which states: “The suspect dog owner for the incident was seen and she has been issued a dog control order which she agreed to. However, she did not agree to wholly accept responsibility for the offence, stating that Lola went to fuss the accused dog which in turn jumped up.

“Therefore, the community resolution of the order could not be completed but she has agreed to the conditions set out in the control order for the dog identified as causing the injury.

“A discussion with the owner has been had at length regarding the animals and she has informed me that she muzzles the dogs when she deems appropriate and has nervous harnesses for the animals and has adjusted her walking times for the dog to be a quieter time.”

PC Marder pointed out that as there were no independent witnesses there was very little chance of a prosecution.

We have attempted to contact the owner we are not naming who has not responded. Martyn Scott, head of housing management for Cornwall Housing, said last week: “It’s important for residents to know that we care about the welfare for both our tenants and their pets in our homes.

“We can’t comment on specific cases, but our housing officers take any animal welfare concerns, and distress caused to neighbours, very seriously, and we work closely with the council’s environmental protection team and the RSPCA.”

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said it investigates cruelty and neglect, whereas the local authority has statutory powers when it comes to noise and concerns about dangerous dogs.

We have also contacted Devon and Cornwall Police for comment.