Dog Attacks

Dog attacks are of great concern to the organisation and to guide dog owners. The number of guide dog owners who are reporting dog attacks on their guide dogs is increasing. Our latest research shows the number of reported attacks on guide dogs has risen from three a month to over seven dog attacks a month within a 14 month period to August 2011.

In most cases the causes of the attack was unprovoked and where the aggressor dog was uncontrolled and off the lead.

The impact on guide dog owners and guide dogs

Dog attacks can have a devastating impact on both people and animals. So far three guide dogs have been permanently withdrawn and another two other are currently being assessed to see if they are able to continue working.  The other major impact is that blind & partially sighted people are left without a guide dog, which is their mobility aid and become housebound until another suitable dog can be matched up.

Some guide dog owners have been left too frightened to go out as a result of the attack and one wanted to move house.   This was due to the response of the owners of the attacking dog, who in some cases used verbal abuse against blind & partially sighted people, some appeared to be under the influence of drink or drugs and in one case the owner of an aggressive dog laughed at a guide dog owner during an attack on his guide dog.