Fears for child safety after dog attack

12:35pm Wednesday 8th October 2008

TWO out of control bull terriers savaged a small dog and injured its owner, leading to fears a child could be seriously injured.

Anthony Antoniou, 44, was walking his pet Chihuahua Chico near his home in Wellington Avenue, Edmonton, when the beasts struck without warning.

Mr Antoniou, who said he had previously intervened to prevent a recent attack by the same dogs, said: “They came at my dog like it was a rag doll.”

“One of them jumped on his back and locked its jaw on him. Chico was screaming and I tried to open the dog’s jaw with my hand.

“My friend was punching and kicking the other dog, trying to keep him away.

“He (the owner of the dogs) was calling the dogs and swearing at them. One of the dogs jumped up and bit my hand and that was when I felt the whole thing rip.”

Mr Antoniou, who drives a school bus in Hampstead, needed eight stitches and was told the wound narrowly missed a tendon.

He said he has had to take time off work because he cannot change gears properly.

Chico was taken to Harmsworth animal hospital in Holloway with wounds all over his body.

Mr Antoniou’s Wife Penny, 44, described the aftermath of the attack. She said: “My kitchen is white but it went red because there was blood everywhere.

“I want those two dogs put down. If my daughter had been walking with my husband I would be a grieving mother now.”

The maximum penalty for owning a dangerously out of control dog is two years imprisonment, or a fine, or both.

Police visited Mr Antoniou on October 2 but allegedly told him they didn’t have the manpower to drive around the streets looking for the owner of the dangerous dogs.

However a spokeswoman said the case has not been closed and police are investigating.

Police are looking for a man of Turkish appearance, who is about 25, with one tan and one dark brown dog.

Anyone with information about the incident, which happened on September 24, is asked to call 020 8807 1212.