Brave Olly survives dog attack

A TINY puppy was left fighting for his life after being attacked by two large fighting dogs at Lymm Dam.
Brave little Olly, an eight-month-old Shih Tzu was blinded in one eye and suffered other serious injuries in the incident.
He was rushed to a vets at Latchford by his owners, the Savage family – Phil, Jane, Amy and Megan – and was stabilised and made comfortable by staff.
After almost two hours he was deemed fit enough to make the journey to a specialist eye clinic at St Helens where he underwent an immediate operation.
Sadly he lost one eye – but otherwise made a good recovery.
Phil said: “The vets were totally amazing and without doubt saved his life.”
The incident took place on Friday, August 24 at about 7pm, just a few meters from the St Mary’s car park entrance to the Dam.
The fight to save Olly went on until midnight.
Phil described the attack.
“Two large dogs approached from the opposite direction. We think they were Japanese Akitas. Both were on a lead, but given the fighting nature of this breed they should have been muzzled.
“The owner told us that one of the dogs had a known bad temperament – but by then the attack had taken place.
“Due to the severity of the attack and in an effort to save Olly’s life, we didn’t hang around to swap details.
“Miraculously, despite the late hour, the vets was still open.
“It was around midnight we received the news that Olly had lost one of his eyes but that he was a brave and strong puppy who had come through the worst and would most likely make it.
“The care Olly received from both veterinary practices was absolutely wonderful and we can’t thank them enough for all they did.
“We reported the incident to the police. As far as we know these dogs have not been seen around the Dam before and don’t appear to be known in the area.
“If anyone knows anything about them, we would like them to tell the police.
“We wanted to tell Olly’s story as a tribute to his bravery and so people can be on their guard when walking with dogs or children in this area.
“We hope this will raise awareness and help prevent any more incidents like this, or even more serious, from happening.”
A police spokeswoman said: “We received a report of this incident at about 10.10pm. The owner of the injured dog was offered advice and advised that if he sees the owner of the two dogs again he should exchange pet insurance details.”

Gemma on 9th December 2013 9:58 am 9:58 am

As the owner of large breed dogs for the last 17 years without any problems or accidents caused by my dogs, I would personally like to know whether the puppy was on a lead when it approached the 2 dogs? If the 2 larger dogs were on a lead and the puppy was on a lead, there would have been absolutely no reason for this attack. As a rule of thumb, if you see people walking dogs in a dog friendly area with their dogs still on leads, it’s usually due to one or both not being happy meeting new dogs. I rescued a bitch who was fear aggressive with other dogs, yet amazing when meeting new people. I would always warn people who usually had their dogs off leads not to allow them to come to meet her and always kepy her on a lead when other dogs were about. With years of training, Bonnie came round to realising that meeting other dogs was not going to result in her having to attack through fear, but was fun. She became excited to meet new dogs and play.

One of my biggest bug bears was other dog owners. I am amazed at just how many people with small breed dogs especially, think it’s acceptable to allow them to bark and snap at my Rottweilers without being trained not to or correcting them. If my Rotties were to retaliate, there would be a story printed in a local newspaper and they would be called Devil Dogs with calls for them to be put to sleep by infuriated, prejudiced people. If the small dog were to attack my large dog, that would not make for a story.

I have no doubt the puppy in this story was being friendly and just wanted to play, but it is down to the owner of the puppy to make sure it is under full control when meeting new dogs.

Just yesterday, my 5 month old rescue Rottie was out walking, on a lead. 2 Dogs off leads approached us. I asked the owner whether they were friendly with dogs, Dexter is submissive, playful and loves to meet new dogs. I was told the dogs were friendly. The male dog approached Dexter, then attacked him pinning him to the ground whilst Dexter was still on his lead. The owner then told me this was natural to his male dog, he didn’t like other males and would quite often go to attack them. This owner clearly is irresponsible. The dog should have been placed on a lead whilst passing us. Thankfully I fended the dog off before any damage was done physically, but irresponsible dog owners lead to dogs having aggression problems. I want Dexter to never have to experience a bad situation that could change the way he views other dogs. I’m a responsible dog owner, the other dog owners were not.

I am sorry the puppy was attacked and glad that the puppy was saved, but If it were on a lead, then as a dog owner it is down to you to make sure that any dog you meet will be happy to meet your dog, and if the the dog is not friendly to new dogs it does not know, avoid it.

People can avoid these problems by being sensible and using common sense and being respectful of other dog owners. Starting a witch hunt for 2 dogs that were on leads, for a situation that could and should have been avoided to me is not the right way of going about things. In the natural world, some dogs will fight, it’s a fact of life, it is down to every dog owner to make sure they know for sure whether their dog should be able to get nose to nose with a strange dog.

I’d also like to say, working as a Vet nurse for several years, the only bites I received were from small dogs, not so called “fighting dogs”. Any dog with the correct training of positive reinforcement can make a safe, happy dog.

7 Comments

Sha on 31st August 2012 8:25 am 8:25 am

A police spokeswoman said: “………… The owner of the injured dog was offered advice and advised that if he sees the owner of the two dogs again he should exchange pet insurance details.” No investigation or prosecution? pathetic!

Rosemary on 31st August 2012 8:34 am 8:34 am

I have often seen a man walking 2 Akitas along Cherry Lane in Lymm. Hope this helps.

Silverlady on 31st August 2012 9:04 am 9:04 am

Please pass this information to the police, they might follow it up then! I doubt they read these responses.

Sha on 1st September 2012 11:29 am 11:29 am

From what the police spokeswoman said it doesn’t appear that they are interested!

Jane Savage on 4th September 2012 10:43 am 10:43 am

Thanks very much for that info. We will keep our eyes open!!!!

Love The Savages

sarah on 21st September 2012 11:25 am 11:25 am

As the owner of 3 Akita’s and the trustee of an Akita charity, i have followed this story with interest and quite honestly disgust at the way the Akita is portrayed.

Akita’s Japanese or american type are not fighting dogs, and should not be portrayed as such this is not only inaccurate reporting but a scaremongering attitude.

Akita’s are like any other dogs, some like other dogs and mix well with them and some don’t.. Legally the dogs do not have to be muzzled. In addition because a dog of any type is aggressive towards other dogs this by no means suggests that he would be aggressive to children.

whilst i feel for the owners of the dog that was attacked we are not fully aware of the incident that took place from both sides.

Gemma on 9th December 2013 9:58 am 9:58 am

As the owner of large breed dogs for the last 17 years without any problems or accidents caused by my dogs, I would personally like to know whether the puppy was on a lead when it approached the 2 dogs? If the 2 larger dogs were on a lead and the puppy was on a lead, there would have been absolutely no reason for this attack. As a rule of thumb, if you see people walking dogs in a dog friendly area with their dogs still on leads, it’s usually due to one or both not being happy meeting new dogs. I rescued a bitch who was fear aggressive with other dogs, yet amazing when meeting new people. I would always warn people who usually had their dogs off leads not to allow them to come to meet her and always kepy her on a lead when other dogs were about. With years of training, Bonnie came round to realising that meeting other dogs was not going to result in her having to attack through fear, but was fun. She became excited to meet new dogs and play.

One of my biggest bug bears was other dog owners. I am amazed at just how many people with small breed dogs especially, think it’s acceptable to allow them to bark and snap at my Rottweilers without being trained not to or correcting them. If my Rotties were to retaliate, there would be a story printed in a local newspaper and they would be called Devil Dogs with calls for them to be put to sleep by infuriated, prejudiced people. If the small dog were to attack my large dog, that would not make for a story.

I have no doubt the puppy in this story was being friendly and just wanted to play, but it is down to the owner of the puppy to make sure it is under full control when meeting new dogs.

Just yesterday, my 5 month old rescue Rottie was out walking, on a lead. 2 Dogs off leads approached us. I asked the owner whether they were friendly with dogs, Dexter is submissive, playful and loves to meet new dogs. I was told the dogs were friendly. The male dog approached Dexter, then attacked him pinning him to the ground whilst Dexter was still on his lead. The owner then told me this was natural to his male dog, he didn’t like other males and would quite often go to attack them. This owner clearly is irresponsible. The dog should have been placed on a lead whilst passing us. Thankfully I fended the dog off before any damage was done physically, but irresponsible dog owners lead to dogs having aggression problems. I want Dexter to never have to experience a bad situation that could change the way he views other dogs. I’m a responsible dog owner, the other dog owners were not.

I am sorry the puppy was attacked and glad that the puppy was saved, but If it were on a lead, then as a dog owner it is down to you to make sure that any dog you meet will be happy to meet your dog, and if the the dog is not friendly to new dogs it does not know, avoid it.

People can avoid these problems by being sensible and using common sense and being respectful of other dog owners. Starting a witch hunt for 2 dogs that were on leads, for a situation that could and should have been avoided to me is not the right way of going about things. In the natural world, some dogs will fight, it’s a fact of life, it is down to every dog owner to make sure they know for sure whether their dog should be able to get nose to nose with a strange dog.

I’d also like to say, working as a Vet nurse for several years, the only bites I received were from small dogs, not so called “fighting dogs”. Any dog with the correct training of positive reinforcement can make a safe, happy dog.