Law change call after 'dog off a lead' kills pet

6 hours ago

Martin HeathHertfordshire political reporter

News image — Pom-Pom's owner said she was "always smiling"

Joanna Wade A white pomeranian with fur brushed outwards, looking at the camera with her tongue hanging out of her mouth. She is sitting on the dashboard of a car and houses are visible through the front window. — Pom-Pom's owner said she was "always smiling"

A woman who says her pomeranian was killed by a dog that was off the lead is calling for a change in the law.

Joanna Wade, from Stevenage, said Pom-Pom was attacked near her home in the St Nicholas area of the town.

She wants it to be mandatory for dogs to be kept on leads in public areas.

Hertfordshire Police said inquiries into the incident were ongoing.

Wade said Pom-Pom had had "a lovely personality – she was always smiling, always giving us lots of cuddles and love".

But weighing only 5lb (just over 2kg) and being very small, she did not stand a chance in a fight with another dog.

Joanna Wade A white pomeranian with fur brushed outwards. Her eyes are shut and she has a white and yellow straw in her mouth, the other end of which is in the neck of a grey bottle. There is a white blanket behind her. — Pom-Pom weighed only 5lb (less than 2.5kg)

Wade said the attack happened on Monday at about 09:00 GMT outside her house.

Pom-Pom was being walked home by a friend when another dog came up from behind.

"[My friend] didn't see the dog running, and the dog grabbed my dog and started shaking her in the air," said Wade.

She added that her friend "managed to pull Pom-Pom out of the dog's teeth by the leash".

"I could hear her screaming so badly."

According to Wade, the owner of the other dog simply said "I'm so sorry" and walked off.

Pom-Pom was taken to the vet, with Wade believing she was just in shock. But about an hour later, the vet rang to say she had sustained internal injuries and had died.

Joanne Wade A close-up of the face of a white pomeranian with its eyes shut, cheek to cheek with Joanne Wade, who has medium-length blonde hair. — Joanne Wade said Pom-Pom was always "giving lots of cuddles"

Wade has drawn up a petition calling for a change in the law to "make it compulsory to keep your dog on a leash unless obviously in the areas where the dogs are fenced".

She admitted that her own dog was often off the lead "because her recalls were really good and she wasn't a dangerous dog, but we need to draw the line somewhere".

Parliament's petitions committee is assessing her petition to see if it can go public.

Joanna Wade A white pomeranian with her fur matted. Her owner's hand is underneath her, holding her up. The owner is wearing a green T-shirt. — Pom-Pom looked shocked after the attack but did not appear to be seriously hurt

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Police said: "On Monday 9 February, a pomeranian dog was reportedly attacked by another dog that was off its lead on Exeter Close.

"Sadly, the pomeranian was taken to the vets and passed away.

"Inquiries are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to report it to the police."

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