A SHETLAND pony belonging to a five-year-old girl has been mauled to death by two Rottweilers.
The girl's family have told of their horror after the attack in a field off Clough End Lane in Haslingden, Lancs.
The pony belonged to Vanessa Smith's daughter, Shannon, and had been named after her.
Vanessa, 29, from Hud Rake in Haslingden, said: "It was an incredibly gentle creature which my daughter adored and I just don't know how you explain to a five-year-old that something like this has happened.
"This has come as a terrible shock which has upset everyone in the family.
"It doesn't even bear thinking about what would have happened if my daughter had been with the pony when those dogs attacked."
Residents living nearby heard an animal in distress and alerted the police who sent marksmen.
The marksmen shot the dogs at the scene and discovered that the pony was already dead. It is understood the two dogs had escaped from a nearby property.
The owners of the dogs have been traced by police and an investigation is continuing.
Insp Dave Hodson said: "We gave every consideration to dealing with the dogs as humanely as possible but sadly it was necessary for us to take immediate action. We will now be looking into how the dogs managed to escape from what appears to be a secure compound."
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The Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (28/04/2008 at 11:51)
Pippa, Manchester (28/04/2008 at 12:13)
ace, manchester (28/04/2008 at 13:03)
Matthew Wright (28/04/2008 at 13:47)
alvinlwh (28/04/2008 at 16:01)
parvenu, Kent, UK (28/04/2008 at 20:32)
There are many thousands of dogs (yes, including Rottweilers) who carry out tasks for mankind every day, all over the world. Hearing Dogs for the Deaf; Dogs for the Disabled; Guide Dogs for the Blind; Police Dogs; Army & RAF Dogs; PAT (Pets as Therapy) Dogs; Search & Rescue Dogs; Customs Dogs - the list is endless.
Please do not fall into the "joe public" trap of tarring every dog and/or Rottweiler with the same brush. Also, please do not jump to conclusions; did anybody actually see this alleged attack? Just as people - there are good and bad.
Perhaps we should bring back hanging, Mr. Spanner?
ace, manchester (29/04/2008 at 15:57)
Im sorry to disagree with you unless we "tar" all large dogs with the same brush we will have children being killed and stories like this in the news.Its not just the dogs its the owners.But you cannot just sit back and allow idiots to own dogs so until something is done to control these dogs "CARRY ON TARRING ALL LARGE DOGS WITH THE SAME BRUSH" Its safer for people that way.
The Rt Hon Dr Rev MC Spanner MP QC FCA FRICS JP OK (29/04/2008 at 16:28)
ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!
I was just trying to beat ace to the gun of his usual bleatings.
I don't care about dogs one way or the other. I am not interested in animal welfare, I don't give to animal charities and don't particularly believe in pets. If one animal kills another, it's the law of the jungle. Animals don't have consciences, don't read and were mainly put on this earth to be eaten or to be part of the biosphere or whatever the term is.
ace, manchester (29/04/2008 at 19:26)
Now i can sum you up? A person who dosnt like pets are usually not very nice people.I myself love animals and ive always had a pet dog/rabbit etc from being a small child,I find people who dont want/like animals are missing out on a very important part of life"Being taught to look after others" .Like i look after my neighbours.