Jack Russell savaged to death by dogs in Weymouth country park (From Dorset Echo)

Jack Russell savaged to death by dogs in Weymouth country park

9:16am Friday 27th March 2009 in News By Ian McDonald

Dog warden Ian Lewis at the scene in Lodmoor Country Park

DOG warden Ian Lewis has warned that a child or pensioner could be next after a Jack Russell dog was savaged to death in Weymouth.

Owner John Pallister, 51, watched helplessly as beloved Jippy was fatally mauled by two off-lead dogs in Lodmoor Country Park.

Mr Lewis says there will be further attacks unless the dogs are found – and that a person could be on the receiving end.

He said: “This will happen again and next time it could be a child or a pensioner.

“If Mr Pallister had fallen and the dogs had gone for him we could have had something even more serious on our hands.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council dog warden Mr Lewis said it was essential owners kept dogs under control.

Mr Lewis said: “If you have a dog which could be dangerous you must keep it muzzled and on a lead.

“We’re seeing more and more attacks these days because people are getting the wrong dogs. They’re not doing any training and they can’t keep them under control.”

Mr Lewis urged anyone who saw the attack or knows the dogs responsible to come forward. He added: “Whoever owns these dogs will know they’ve been involved in something horrific because there was blood everywhere.”

The attack happened early yesterday while gardener Mr Pallister, of Brackendown Avenue, was walking Jippy, eight, in Lodmoor Country Park. He said: “I’ve never seen these dogs before. They came from behind and pinned Jippy down and set about him.

“He was on the lead and it was unprovoked. The dogs weren’t on leads and there were no owners around.

“My dad’s 93 and he’s taken it very badly.

“It was terrible explaining to him what had happened. This could easily happen again to another dog, or a child. It’s so distressing.”

Mr Pallister’s sister Carole, 57, from Cornwall, said Jippy was incredibly important to him and her father, Wing Commander Michael Watts.

She said her mother Kathleen died in November 2007 and Mr Pallister and Wing Commander Watts did not have many friends locally.

“Jippy was the focus of John and my father’s lives,” she said. “They’re both very shocked.”

West Dorset RSPCA rescue centre manager Lisa Samways said dog attacks were becoming more frequent. She added: “Unfortunately people think their dogs are well-trained and they don’t need to keep them on leads. It’s down to owners to be more responsible. ”

It is believed the animals responsible were a black and brown Rottweiler and a brown and white Collie-type dog.

Anyone with information should contact Mr Lewis on 01305 838009 or Dorset Police on 01305 222222.