Barrie Hopcroft and guide dog Bailey feature at dangerous dogs petition launch

Blind guide dog owner Barrie Hopcroft and guide dog Bailey featured at a media launch of a petition guide calling for tougher penalties for owners of dogs that are out of control and legislation to let police seize dogs after attacks on private property.

The petition has been organised by Kit Malthouse the deputy Mayor for policing and the launch was held at Battersea Park on Wednesday August 25th.

Barrie and Labrador-retriever Bailey were walking to shops in Walworth Road by the Elephant and Castle last July when a pitbull approached and started to growl and attacked Bailey, an eight year old guide dog.

Barrie was knocked sideways, almost into Boots the chemist's windows. Bailey suffered four puncture wounds to the neck and shoulder and the injuries could have been far worse except for the guide dog harness which was torn and shredded by the ferocity of the attack and protected Bailey from even worse injury. However, in trying to get the pitbull off Bailey, Barrie was himself bitten, causing deep hand wounds requiring 24 stitches. The man with the dog then picked it up and jumped onto a bus and escaped.

Barrie said: " It was a horrific attack and the pitbull wouldn't let go. Even now, over a year later, Bailey is wary when approached by the same type of pitbull terriers. These dogs need to be on leads and muzzled in public."

Click to read the full Evening Standard article on the media launch of the petition.