A Chingford woman lost her left thumb in a 'horror movie'-style dog attack (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

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A Chingford woman lost her left thumb in a 'horror movie'-style dog attack

2:12pm Thursday 29th October 2009

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By Claire Hack »

A CHINGFORD woman has described the horrifying moment her thumb was ripped off in a dog attack.

Shelley Bowen, 41, of Normanshire Drive, was walking her own dog, Sid, on October 23 at about 5pm when another animal ran away from its owners and attacked her.

She said: “I was screaming for help. I had a cream coat on and I was covered in blood.

“It was like something out of a horror movie. People didn't want to come near me.”

Although paramedics worked to reattach Mrs Bowen's thumb, they were unable to do so and she has been left permanently maimed.

And Mrs Bowen has said the police have taken no action against the dog's owners despite being called to the incident and that the matter has been 'dropped'.

She said: “They've said they think it's a closed case. I'm very angry. My thumb was bitten off down to my wrist.

“If the dog had gone any further, I could have died.”

Her own dog, an Alsatian, described as a 'big softie', was on a lead at the time and was left terrified by the ordeal, she said.

Mrs Bowen said: “It went for my dog's neck and was shaking it around. I obviously got in the way – it just bit my thumb clean off.

“My dog was very distressed and screaming.”

She said other witnesses who saw the attack said she 'didn't stand a chance'.

Friend Sharon Matyk added: “The police feel it's all closed and taken care of. We thought that meant they were going to have the dog destroyed but they're not.

“I've organised a meeting so that all the local people can talk to the police about this.”

She added that a number of witnesses had seen the attack and could confirm what happened to officers.

The meeting is to be held with Larkswood Safer Neighbourhoods Team on November 4 to address the incident.

A police spokeswoman said: "Waltham Forest police carried out a thorough investigation into the incident following their attendance at the scene.

"Unfortunately, it could not be determined which dog caused the injury and therefore the incident cannot be classified as a crime."

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Andy Lundlack, Wanstead says...
2:18pm Thu 29 Oct 09

This is a disgrace. What sort of dog was it? How on Earth have the Police left it like this? What would have happened if it was a child? The lady can sue the idiot owner through the courts but I suspect it will be the usual, an unemployed layabout without any money to lose whatever happens. Sickening story.

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Sleuthy, Loughton says...
2:19pm Thu 29 Oct 09

If no arrest is possible, the Police will unlikely be interested as it won't help their "stats", and they will consider it a waste of time.
If the dog's owners were children and Ms. Bowen remonstrated with them, rest assurred she would be the one facing a court appearance.

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Walthamster, Walthamstow says...
3:14pm Thu 29 Oct 09

The police urgently need to explain why they consider this case closed. A woman was attacked and left disabled. This is not a minor offence.

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Andy Lundlack, Wanstead says...
3:28pm Thu 29 Oct 09

Walthamster wrote:
The police urgently need to explain why they consider this case closed. A woman was attacked and left disabled. This is not a minor offence.

Loss of thumb is very serious and far worse than loss of a finger. People have had their big toe transplanted onto their hand as it is vital in everyday activities. Dreadful case and I agree with Sleuthy that she would have been up before the Judge had she slapped the owner round the chops for it.

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The guv, chingford says...
4:28pm Thu 29 Oct 09

Will S.Bowen be having her big toe transplanted? So this nightmare is still not over. Poor thing

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chingford20, ching says...
9:34am Fri 30 Oct 09

it can only be one of two breeds.....staff or pitbull?? maybe a staff pitball cross?? it scares me that this could happen,as i would protect my dog in a heartbeat.i wonder wher abouts this happened?

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Dr H, Waltham forest says...
3:24pm Fri 30 Oct 09

I have been informed by a witness that the dog that attacked Ms Bowen was a very large and powerful fighting dog, possibly an Akbash.

Following the attack the owner ran off with his dog which is not only irresponsible and cowardly but seems to imply he knew that his animal was responsible.

Local dog walkers have confirmed that this dog is regularily walked in the area and is known to be very aggressive with the owner unable to control him.

It is essential that this animal is not allowed to continue to be exercised in public.

It would seem to me that if the police fail to take action and this dog attacks someone else then they may be liable for negligence. I would urge the police to rethink their actions. Next time it could be a child.

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The guv, chingford says...
3:29pm Fri 30 Oct 09

An Akbash is not a fighting dog it is a sheep dog used in turkey, They are a lazy breed.

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Dr H, Waltham forest says...
3:36pm Fri 30 Oct 09

I'm sure The Guv is correct as I am not an expert on dogs - only to say that this dog was described by witnesses as an exceptionally large dog with a powerful fighting like jaws.

The fact remains that this dog must be removed from public spaces and the police need to take action.

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Andy Lundlack, Wanstead says...
3:53pm Fri 30 Oct 09

A man called Akbash works at my local kebab house, I will ask him about the breed and let everyone know about their tendacies.

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Dr H, Waltham forest says...
4:10pm Fri 30 Oct 09

I seemed to have set off the wrong hare here! The Guv is correct - the dog was not an Akbash - I have had a look on the web and the description of the dog does not match. The Akbash is a greyhound type dog whereas the dog that attacked Ms Bowen was a large powerfully built animal. One witness said it was like a small horse in size with powerful jaws. It completely overpowered the Alsatian.

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arealdogwalker, chingford says...
6:00pm Fri 30 Oct 09

the dog is a kurdish kangel a i've seen in chingfod

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dog walkers, chingford says...
6:26pm Fri 30 Oct 09

The dog is a Anatolian Shepherd dog.These dogs can weigh up to 60kg and their height can be up to 32in. The dog is well known at Larkswood and where it lives as it keeps all the neighbours awake at night. The dog is only about 12 months old and is nearly at his full height! He is a difficult dog to control. I understand that the owners have been told not to walk their dog at Larkswood. However, I feel that something needs to be done, so that this does not happen again. The problem should not be pushed elsewhere. Personally if it was my dog I would put it to sleep. At the very least the dog should be muzzled. Finally my thoughts are with this Lady and her family. I can confirm that her dog is a big softie. I am very dissappointed with the police handling of this case and I am looking forward to the meeting on wednesday as many issues need to be addressed.

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dog walkers, chingford says...
6:41pm Fri 30 Oct 09

Dog also known as a Karabesh or Kangal.

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Dr H, Waltham forest says...
6:44pm Fri 30 Oct 09

I have just learnt the reason the Police are not taking any action is because Ms Bowen intervened as the other dog attacked her dog while it was on a lead.

They claim that she got hurt as a result of getting in the way of two dogs in a fight. This is not what happened as her dog was attacked while on a lead placing her inevitably in harms way.

This situation is unacceptable as it means that any dog walker whose dog is attacked has to allow the other dog to kill their dog and there is no criminal recourse to prevent out of control dogs from rampaging in the park.

The Police have so far failed to interview key witnesses to establish the truth about this attack.

The Police urgently need to get a grip on out of control and aggressive dogs.

This dog is clearly a potential killer and needs to be stopped.

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dingers, chingford says...
8:39pm Fri 30 Oct 09

The Anatolian Shepherd dog in question, in my opinion, should be destroyed. I've seen the owners futile atempts at controlling this beast and am not surprised that it has 'attacked'. My feelings are particularly strong as the poor, innocent victim is Shelley, the love of my life. To watch her face fill with tears every hour of every day, truely breaks my heart. she is now a nervous wreck, a shadow of her former bubbly self. The sound of a distant firework makes her jump out of her skin, the postman, the phone, a banging cupboard door,are just a few side affects of this living nightmare that we are in. I fear she'll never be the same again. Every time she closes her eyes, she re-lives the graphic details of her hand in that dogs mouth. Even as Shelley was searching on the ground to find her missing thumb, the dogs owner, a young Turkish lad, was shouting at her, saying that it wasn't his fault !!! If i had the power, i'd have him put down too. It is only the support of our local fellow dog walkers, friends and family that keep us going. Thank you all so much. My priority right now is to make sure Shelley gets rest and that her sons are not affected too much by this. They are coming to terms with the fact that their loving mother has been maimed for life and needs a lot of trauma therapy, just to do day-to- day things.They feel angry and hurt too.I look forword to the meeting on Wednesday and know that a lot of support will be there for us. The Police should be ashamed of themselves for brushing her off and not taking this incident seriously. Do we have to wait untill some one is killed ? Shelley hasn't been interviewed or even called by the police. They spoke to her at the scene for about a minute before being ushered away by the waiting paramedics. This apparantly, was enough for them to 'close' the case. Well my friend, BELIEVE ME, as long as i have breath in my body, i will fight tooth and nail untill justice has been done.

The Anatolian Shepherd dog in question, in my opinion, should be destroyed. I've seen the owners futile atempts at controlling this beast and am not surprised that it has 'attacked'. My feelings are particularly strong as the poor, innocent victim is Shelley, the love of my life. To watch her face fill with tears every hour of every day, truely breaks my heart. she is now a nervous wreck, a shadow of her former bubbly self. The sound of a distant firework makes her jump out of her skin, the postman, the phone, a banging cupboard door,are just a few side affects of this living nightmare that we are in. I fear she'll never be the same again. Every time she closes her eyes, she re-lives the graphic details of her hand in that dogs mouth. Even as Shelley was searching on the ground to find her missing thumb, the dogs owner, a young Turkish lad, was shouting at her, saying that it wasn't his fault !!! If i had the power, i'd have him put down too. It is only the support of our local fellow dog walkers, friends and family that keep us going. Thank you all so much. My priority right now is to make sure Shelley gets rest and that her sons are not affected too much by this. They are coming to terms with the fact that their loving mother has been maimed for life and needs a lot of trauma therapy, just to do day-to- day things.They feel angry and hurt too.I look forword to the meeting on Wednesday and know that a lot of support will be there for us. The Police should be ashamed of themselves for brushing her off and not taking this incident seriously. Do we have to wait untill some one is killed ? Shelley hasn't been interviewed or even called by the police. They spoke to her at the scene for about a minute before being ushered away by the waiting paramedics. This apparantly, was enough for them to 'close' the case. Well my friend, BELIEVE ME, as long as i have breath in my body, i will fight tooth and nail untill justice has been done.

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Shazzbot, HIghams Park says...
10:32pm Fri 30 Oct 09

The Anatolian Shepherd who so viciously attacked Shelley is well known in the Highams Park / Chingford / Larkswood area. The dog (puppy it should be called, due to its age; but being already larger than a Great Dane and after this terrible incident it makes me nauseous to call it a puppy) drags its owners around town when it's on the lead. The owners are clearly unable to control it. According to all the witnesses at the time (NONE of whom have been interviewed by the police), this dog raced across a field, unprovoked, to leap at Shelley and her dog. Shelley was attempting to put the lead on her own dog, to get it of of harm's way, when the Anatolian Shepherd attacked. He bit with such force that he immediately pulled off her thumb down to the wrist and ripped out the attaching tendons. Although eventually found, the thumb cannot be attached by surgeons due to the extensive damage.

The police spokeswoman says they have done a 'thorough investigation'? Can they please define 'thorough'? To date, they have only talked to the attacking dog's owner. Is it any surprise that he has attempted to introduce an element of confusion as to which dog caused Shelley's injury? Yet, every single witness, of which there are many, can testify that the Turkish sheepdog ran off COVERED in blood. Shelly's own dog had not a mark on him, not a spot of blood. Had the Met done even the most basic investigation, that objective fact would have stood out: there is no question which dog maimed her.

The response of the police has been an absolute disgrace. They have not interviewed Shelley, the victim, even though implored to by many local residents; they have not interviewed any of the ample witnesses to the event.

Please look around town for posters regarding the meeting with Sgt Madari of the police and all concerned local residents, which will happen on Weds 4/11 at 2PM. If you were a witness to this crime, or have information about how out of control the attacking dog has been in the neighbourhood over the last several months, your input will be immensely valued.

The Anatolian Shepherd who so viciously attacked Shelley is well known in the Highams Park / Chingford / Larkswood area. The dog (puppy it should be called, due to its age; but being already larger than a Great Dane and after this terrible incident it makes me nauseous to call it a puppy) drags its owners around town when it's on the lead. The owners are clearly unable to control it. According to all the witnesses at the time (NONE of whom have been interviewed by the police), this dog raced across a field, unprovoked, to leap at Shelley and her dog. Shelley was attempting to put the lead on her own dog, to get it of of harm's way, when the Anatolian Shepherd attacked. He bit with such force that he immediately pulled off her thumb down to the wrist and ripped out the attaching tendons. Although eventually found, the thumb cannot be attached by surgeons due to the extensive damage. The police spokeswoman says they have done a 'thorough investigation'? Can they please define 'thorough'? To date, they have only talked to the attacking dog's owner. Is it any surprise that he has attempted to introduce an element of confusion as to which dog caused Shelley's injury? Yet, every single witness, of which there are many, can testify that the Turkish sheepdog ran off COVERED in blood. Shelly's own dog had not a mark on him, not a spot of blood. Had the Met done even the most basic investigation, that objective fact would have stood out: there is no question which dog maimed her. The response of the police has been an absolute disgrace. They have not interviewed Shelley, the victim, even though implored to by many local residents; they have not interviewed any of the ample witnesses to the event. Please look around town for posters regarding the meeting with Sgt Madari of the police and all concerned local residents, which will happen on Weds 4/11 at 2PM. If you were a witness to this crime, or have information about how out of control the attacking dog has been in the neighbourhood over the last several months, your input will be immensely valued.

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Shazzbot, HIghams Park says...
10:40pm Fri 30 Oct 09

As to the previous comments about the attacking dog's breed, this is an Anatolian Shepherd. This is a dog bred in Turkey to protect the sheep flock from bears and wolves.

Ask yourself: what is a dog, bred to fight bears and wolves, doing in our neighbourhood, with owners clearly unable to control it even whilst on the lead? The Dangerous Dogs Act does not name this breed as a threat. Perhaps with the right owners it would not be dangerous.

My fear as a local resident, and local dog-owner, is that a dog of this background, and with owners unable, unwilling, or not sufficiently trained to handle it, is clearly dangerous and should be muzzled at all times in public at the very least, and castrated (as it is a male) as an attempt to control its aggressive nature.

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lcave, Epping says...
11:27pm Fri 30 Oct 09

This is a disgrace, how can this case be closed! how can this dog still be walking the streets, it clearly has an aggressive nature, the dog should be put to sleep before it happens again. I know Shelley and her family and to think that her bubbly personality has been shattered by this traumatic attack sickens me. Shelley and her family are a loving close family and Sid their dog is included and has a real laid back soft nature. I blame the owners of this other dog it obviously has control of the household, and why is a 'boy' walking this dog? are the parents mad! If there was any remorse from these people surley THEY would have wanted the dog to be put to sleep, I know i would have if it were my dog. Shelley's boys could have been with her and i hate to think what could have happened. It's disgusting that NOTHING has been done about this vicious attack on this poor innocent woman what were the police thinking when they closed the case, it's absurd! where's the justice? this is no minor inncident, this will scar Shelley and her family for life. The police wounder why the public have no faith in them, well just read this story and they just might understand why!

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dingers, chingford says...
11:36pm Fri 30 Oct 09

Thanks Lorraine. Those comments are heart felt and will hopefully make the police sit up and listen. love Sean/Shelley x (the same applies to everyone supporting us )

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ken buster, chingford says...
1:18am Sat 31 Oct 09

I am a witness to this attack on Mrs.Bowen & her Alsatian Sid.
The Anatolian Sheperd dog which attacked them, literaly drags its own when simply being walked on a lead. It`s blatantly obvious to anyone passing that the owner has no control of his animal what so ever. I saw this huge dog off its lead in the middle of Larkswood playing fields then suddenly turn & run across the field and attacked Mrs.Bowen & Sid. Sid was on his lead when the Anatolian attacked them both. They had no chance at all against this huge dog in this unprovocked attack. The owner struggled to pull his dog off them from this attack he then ran off just simply leaving Mrs.Bowen covered in blood & screaming for her thumb which was bitten clean off from her hand. I have not once been approached by the police, dispite given them a full clear statment. It seems to me that the attitude of the police is that it is not a crime to have a limb ripped off, yet it is an offence not to clean up after your dog fouls a pathway. This dog needs to be put down and the owner locked up. I have no doubt that if anyone took revenge on this dog or its owner, they would be arrested damned quick. The law is well out of order and needs putting right. Since the attack I have learnt from an experieced dog trainer that she knew of the animal & its owner & had advised her clients to steer clear from them at all times.

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jojo1, burnham on crouch says...
6:55am Sat 31 Oct 09

where is the justice? The damage that has been done to shelley and her family is unbelievable and yet the owner and his dog are leading their normal lives,i understand people have pictures of the attack and a lot of witnesses,so why will the police not do the right thing,ifnot the police then you think that the family would realise this is wrong,I have been looking at various websites about these dogs and watched videos of what they are capable of and they are very vicious,they have an aggressive nature and take a lot of training and should never be let off the leads,which this dog has been allowed to do and this is the result,its terrifing for all the dog walkers in this area now.who knows when shelley will recover from this terrible ordeal.please please let justice be done.xxx

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shal69, chingford says...
8:33am Sat 31 Oct 09

I can't believe nothing is being done to the dog or the owner of this horrific attack that has left a woman maimed! It doesn't matter what breed of dog this is, it's obvious a dangerous dog & is likely to do it again! maybe a child next time!! This dog must be destroyed!

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pbeatty, highams Park says...
10:07am Sat 31 Oct 09

I am a close friend of this family and also a responsible dog owner. On waltham Forest Council website it states "You must put your dog on a lead of not more than 8 metres in length and keep it under control in all places except the following where you may run your dogs off the lead."
It states that there are 3 areas where dogs are allowed off a lead and Larkswood Playing fields is not one of them.
I have also looked into the breed off this dog and it states that they can go into attack mode and will not be able to be controlled. It states that this breed of dog does not interact with other dogs. As we can see this dog did go into attack mode. It is reported that the Poilice do not know what dog attacked Shelley - the police were at the scene of the accident and followed her to hospital. DNA is taken for other crimes why was her thumb that had not just been not bitten off it had been ripped from her hand swabbed at the time for proof , even though you would think a man running away with a dog covered in BLOOD when her own dog had nothing on him would suggest what dog was actually at fault. I cant believe in this day and age this can happen. Shelley life has been changed dramatically, she went out to walk her dog that was on a lead, luckly her youngest son was not with her or who knows what the situation might be now, to be attacked by a dog who owner has (no control of it)and this breed is bred for protecting sheep from wolves and bears, being allowed off the lead in an area where children play and other dogs are wallked. I am disgusted with the way she has been treated.The trauma and the pain she has faced already and what she still has to come will take months and months for her recovery . How can a person be allowed to have an animal of this nature, off a lead , not muzzled and be able to get away with it. Even if the dog was to be destroyed what stops irresponsible people like him getting another one. People like him make the animals suffer because of his attitude . Shame we can put him down.

I am a close friend of this family and also a responsible dog owner. On waltham Forest Council website it states "You must put your dog on a lead of not more than 8 metres in length and keep it under control in all places except the following where you may run your dogs off the lead." It states that there are 3 areas where dogs are allowed off a lead and Larkswood Playing fields is not one of them. I have also looked into the breed off this dog and it states that they can go into attack mode and will not be able to be controlled. It states that this breed of dog does not interact with other dogs. As we can see this dog did go into attack mode. It is reported that the Poilice do not know what dog attacked Shelley - the police were at the scene of the accident and followed her to hospital. DNA is taken for other crimes why was her thumb that had not just been not bitten off it had been ripped from her hand swabbed at the time for proof , even though you would think a man running away with a dog covered in BLOOD when her own dog had nothing on him would suggest what dog was actually at fault. I cant believe in this day and age this can happen. Shelley life has been changed dramatically, she went out to walk her dog that was on a lead, luckly her youngest son was not with her or who knows what the situation might be now, to be attacked by a dog who owner has (no control of it)and this breed is bred for protecting sheep from wolves and bears, being allowed off the lead in an area where children play and other dogs are wallked. I am disgusted with the way she has been treated.The trauma and the pain she has faced already and what she still has to come will take months and months for her recovery . How can a person be allowed to have an animal of this nature, off a lead , not muzzled and be able to get away with it. Even if the dog was to be destroyed what stops irresponsible people like him getting another one. People like him make the animals suffer because of his attitude . Shame we can put him down.

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Andy Lundlack, Wanstead says...
11:20am Sat 31 Oct 09

checked with the guy in the kebab shop and he can confirm that these Turkish dogs are very vicious and are strong and mighty and attack anything if they go into attack mode and it is hard to tell them to 'stop' or 'leave'.
They have been seen to eat a large doner kebab, with all the trimmings, whole with the paper on, even those long green chillies as well and still stiff around for more. It is terrible that the police are soing nothing about it and I hope when the police are hanging around the kebab shop for their supper they do not get attacked for their kebab or get their thumb ripped off like this poor lady.
What on Earth is a dog like this doing in the UK anyway? We do not have Wolves or Lions to worry about and why can the owner just not have something smaller like a rescue greyhound or poodle/terrier cross? This all has to do with an extension of their lack of personality and I urge the people who attend the meeting to ensure that the Police leave no stone unturned to arrest the culprits and put the dog down and then send the owner down.

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Dr H, Waltham forest says...
12:19pm Sat 31 Oct 09

I am very concerned about the police's position on whether they will take action in a case like this. Let's imagine a situation where someone is walking their King Charles Spaniel and it gets attacked by a Staffordshire. If in the ensuing fight the owner losses a limb; is the police's position that they will assume the King Charles could have done this to its owner? This is clearly a nonesense and the owner of the Staff should be prosecuted.

Shelley was clearly the victim of a violent crime - she deserves the same rights as anyone else who is a victim of crime and should not have her rights taken away merely because she was walking her dog.

The Police and CPS need to review their postion on how to deal with victims of attacks by out of control dogs. It is not sustainable to argue that it is not possible to distinguish between two dogs in a fight when a person is seriously injured. In this case there are ample witnesses and had the police acted promptly there would also be forensic evidence.

I hope a formal complaint is made to the Independent Police Complaints Authority and that this paper starts a campaign to support victims of crimes such as this.

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Andy Lundlack, Wanstead says...
12:59pm Sat 31 Oct 09

Dr H wrote:
I am very concerned about the police's position on whether they will take action in a case like this. Let's imagine a situation where someone is walking their King Charles Spaniel and it gets attacked by a Staffordshire. If in the ensuing fight the owner losses a limb; is the police's position that they will assume the King Charles could have done this to its owner? This is clearly a nonesense and the owner of the Staff should be prosecuted.

Shelley was clearly the victim of a violent crime - she deserves the same rights as anyone else who is a victim of crime and should not have her rights taken away merely because she was walking her dog.

The Police and CPS need to review their postion on how to deal with victims of attacks by out of control dogs. It is not sustainable to argue that it is not possible to distinguish between two dogs in a fight when a person is seriously injured. In this case there are ample witnesses and had the police acted promptly there would also be forensic evidence.

I hope a formal complaint is made to the Independent Police Complaints Authority and that this paper starts a campaign to support victims of crimes such as this.

The first port of call is to complain to Commissioner Ben Bows of Chingford and when he does nothing as usual about it then the procedure is to go to the Irrelevant Police Complaints Collusion Department so that they can back up his findings.

This has been dealt with as nothing more than a reportable 'dog bite' not a 'thumb rip off' as it should have been and why someone is allowed to roam the streets with an offensive weapon like this is beyond belief.

Where were the Police Dogs Officers in all of this? Did they not leave the canteen whilst this was going on? They could have resumed their game of snap after they had dealt with it effectively.

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licarroll, Chingford says...
1:00pm Sat 31 Oct 09

I cant believe 'No Action' has been taken against this dog or its owner. Its a total disgrace, and innocent woman was walking her dog and now her life has been shattered in a matter of minutes.
This dog is obviously very vicious and clearly should have never been off the lead or without a muzzle.
Shelley's life has been shattered by this attack, she was once a funloving, bubbly, outgoing woman who was full of confidence and now she is suffering from panic attacks. AND NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. Hopefully with the love and support she has from family and friends she will get through this, but will obviously take time.
This dog should be distroyed immediately and the owner locked before if happens again.

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buck35golf, Brentwood says...
4:34pm Sat 31 Oct 09

I am absolutely appalled, at the lack of support from the police regarding this matter. I have read the comments from various witnesses and family. Where is the justice ! Surely the dog should be put down, and the owner prosecuted as they are responsible for their pets actions. Its not them who have been maimed for life, and had their life turned up side down. They should take full responsibility, for this attack. Its up to the police now, to put commen sense into perspective and prosecute this dog owner . I hope people back this cause in full, and think of the damage incurred on Shelly and her family.

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Shazzbot, HIghams Park says...
5:18pm Sat 31 Oct 09

The meeting with Sgt Madari of the Met Police and local concerned residents will be held on Weds 04 Nov at 2:00 pm at St Anne's Church (200 Larkshall Road Chingford E4 6NP, sort of across the road from the Larkshall Pub). The agenda of the meeting is:
1) the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, and its specifics regarding out of control dogs who harm people
2) the Turkish sheepdog in question, and our experiences of its owners being unable to control it in public even when on the lead
3) the reputation this dog is giving to all dogs and owners; and the damage this situation causes relations between dog owners and non-owners in the borough
4) the official position of the Metropolitan Police as published in this Guardian article that they have conducted a 'thorough investigation' into Shelley's maiming, even though they have, to date, taken no formal victim or witness statements

Please tell everyone you know about this meeting. We already have quite a few people attending but the more who can be with us, the better it will be. We must ensure that the Met understand that they have been negligent in their duties in this case and must do a proper investigation.

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j_b, chingford says...
7:19pm Sat 31 Oct 09

The police, in this instance are neglegent. They claim to have statements from all parties, I'm sorry but that just is not the case. The attacking dog's owner handed himself in to the police and made a statement saying he wasn't sure which dog maimed Shelley. Which is actually true, because he was nowhere near her when it was ripping her hand to pieces. She, and other witnesses blatently saw this dog savage Shelley. Infact Shelley see's this picture every single night when she closes her eyes. No police officer has been to Shelley's home or even phoned. I know this because Shelley, is my mum. I urge every one possible to attend the meeting on Wednesday @ 2pm @ St Annes church, on Larkswood Road E4, opposite the Larkswood pub. I and everyone else want their questions answered by the police. My mum, deserves some sort of justice!!!!

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CarlyBeatty, Highams Park says...
8:54pm Sat 31 Oct 09

Shelly is a person that once you meet you automatically love her. She didnt deserve this, that dog deserves to be put down.
I know shelly and I know that if it was her dog she wouldnt point the blame somewere else. Also she wouldnt keep a violent animal around her two boys.
Her dog is big but he is a fun loving dog and she controlls her dog unlike others. Its disgusting that police can actually close this case is it because there too busy giving people hassle for petty crimes ???????????
All I know is my Shelly has been seriously hurt my a violent animal and she didnt deserve it.
That dog owner should be ashamed of himself. They shouldnt even want to keep such a creature living.
This dog should have been on the lead its against the law isnt it??????
So why hasnt the dog owner been arrested for this????
I know you will get through this Shelly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!XX
A

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frankie be good, loughton says...
10:05pm Sat 31 Oct 09

so who did bite the ladies thumb off. certainly not her own dog. the witnesses saw the other dog attack. the police could not care less. what on earth are the police doing about it?its a joke. where is justice.

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SHELLEYBOWEN, chingford says...
11:48pm Sat 31 Oct 09

I thought it only fair that i have my say, being as the subject matter is ME ! I am touched at everyones support in all of this madness. It really hasn't truley sunk in. I know and am coming to terms with the fact that i have been permenantly disfigured for life. I don't think i will ever be as confident and outgoing as i was prior to this attack, but am realising that last Friday's carnage could've resulted in me losing my life. The thought of leaving my wonderful sons without their doting mother sends shivers right through my body.I am trying to stay strong but know i have a big mountain to climb. The operation that i'm about to have IS going to be life changing for me,Sean and my boys, but with their support and that of friends and family and neighbours, i have to dig deep and find an inner strength some how. I will not rest untill the owner of that **** animal has been charged. He sleeps easy in his bed at night with no remorse even though he knows he's got my blood on his hands. My feelings towards the police in all of this is making me feel even more bitter. They're not interested in me, i'm just a house wife and mother who tried to protect her pet dog. 'Not a police matter madam' is their response ! I've lost all respect and confidence in our police force. If they had the decency to come to my house and take a full account of what happened and not just take the word of that dogs owner, they might just realise that they've been suckered in by this poor excuse for a human being. I was the closest person to this attack, yet my account is not deemed important. I can still hear my poor dog's screams and see the fear in his little face, he was completely overpowered by this monster. His jaws locking onto my hand will be a vivid reminder that is going to stay with me for the rest of my life. I must say good night now, bed time beckons, not a time i look forward too !!! Keep up the fight for justice, fellow dog lovers and again THANK YOU. X

I thought it only fair that i have my say, being as the subject matter is ME ! I am touched at everyones support in all of this madness. It really hasn't truley sunk in. I know and am coming to terms with the fact that i have been permenantly disfigured for life. I don't think i will ever be as confident and outgoing as i was prior to this attack, but am realising that last Friday's carnage could've resulted in me losing my life. The thought of leaving my wonderful sons without their doting mother sends shivers right through my body.I am trying to stay strong but know i have a big mountain to climb. The operation that i'm about to have IS going to be life changing for me,Sean and my boys, but with their support and that of friends and family and neighbours, i have to dig deep and find an inner strength some how. I will not rest untill the owner of that **** animal has been charged. He sleeps easy in his bed at night with no remorse even though he knows he's got my blood on his hands. My feelings towards the police in all of this is making me feel even more bitter. They're not interested in me, i'm just a house wife and mother who tried to protect her pet dog. 'Not a police matter madam' is their response ! I've lost all respect and confidence in our police force. If they had the decency to come to my house and take a full account of what happened and not just take the word of that dogs owner, they might just realise that they've been suckered in by this poor excuse for a human being. I was the closest person to this attack, yet my account is not deemed important. I can still hear my poor dog's screams and see the fear in his little face, he was completely overpowered by this monster. His jaws locking onto my hand will be a vivid reminder that is going to stay with me for the rest of my life. I must say good night now, bed time beckons, not a time i look forward too !!! Keep up the fight for justice, fellow dog lovers and again THANK YOU. X

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keelylock, loughton says...
12:27am Sun 1 Nov 09

This is a disgrace !!!
Shelley & Sean have been friends of ours for years it breaks our hearts to hear this story,we cant imagine what shelley has been through.And how much stress this has caused to not only her but her adorable family. She Will get through this because she has her beautiful family & so many friends that adore her and are behind her,Sean and Jake & Josh all the way.
This should never of happened and Justice must be done !!!
We cant believe it hasn't already, No wonder our society is how it is today.

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burtie, woodford green says...
12:30am Sun 1 Nov 09

i think it is a disgrace.that this poor lady was so savagelly attacked by a dog.and the police have closed the case,do they relize the exstent of the attack...her thomb was completly ripped off and could not be reatached.surely something should be done...i am a dog lover myself and have adog that i love to peices,but how can u possibly keep a dog that agresive.it could be a child next time.this poor lady has now lost comfidents,and i shouldnt imagine shell beable to work.please reopen this case so this kind of tradgedy doesnt happen again T HOLT

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emlarkswood, Chingford says...
11:25am Sun 1 Nov 09

My 14 year old son saw this attack from the bedroom window, i ran outside with my son and tried to help. There was a number of people in shock, my son done a lot to help, got ice, towels and a chair for Shelley to sit on.I called 999 and tried to help as much as i could. I must say i still cannot remember everything as i think it was so appauling, my son has now started to have flashbacks and although he is fine we still talk about it all the time and i am not dealing with it too well. The sight that hit me will never go away and i must say that Shelley was wandering around looking for her thumb i just didn't comprehend what was going on. Some kind people helped Shelley that day, there was a young man who chased the dog owner, another man who tied a towel around her arm and a lady who picked up her thumb and we put it between ice. All these people were there at the right time for Shelley, yes for a moment she was roaming around aimlessly but I think shock had a big impact on the people that witnessed the attack. I am angry with the way the police have dealt with this. Their first words were " I dont like dogs", the female officer seemed distracted to say the least and seemed unconcerned with what has taken place. I had to remind her to take our names as witnesses. There was no compassion even though my 14 year old son had witnessed this. No-one has contacted us since(we have been abroad for a few days but they did have our mobile numbers). I did get a call soon after the incident by a 'safer neighborhood police officer' but that was only after i made enquiries as to what was happening. He was curt on the phone and i now know the info he gave me was incorrect. I dont mind going to the meeting but as long as its held by the Borough Police and not the Safer neighbourhood police. My heartfelt wishes go towards Shelley and her family, Thinking back i know i could have done more but walked into a situation that i never thought i would see.

My 14 year old son saw this attack from the bedroom window, i ran outside with my son and tried to help. There was a number of people in shock, my son done a lot to help, got ice, towels and a chair for Shelley to sit on.I called 999 and tried to help as much as i could. I must say i still cannot remember everything as i think it was so appauling, my son has now started to have flashbacks and although he is fine we still talk about it all the time and i am not dealing with it too well. The sight that hit me will never go away and i must say that Shelley was wandering around looking for her thumb i just didn't comprehend what was going on. Some kind people helped Shelley that day, there was a young man who chased the dog owner, another man who tied a towel around her arm and a lady who picked up her thumb and we put it between ice. All these people were there at the right time for Shelley, yes for a moment she was roaming around aimlessly but I think shock had a big impact on the people that witnessed the attack. I am angry with the way the police have dealt with this. Their first words were " I dont like dogs", the female officer seemed distracted to say the least and seemed unconcerned with what has taken place. I had to remind her to take our names as witnesses. There was no compassion even though my 14 year old son had witnessed this. No-one has contacted us since(we have been abroad for a few days but they did have our mobile numbers). I did get a call soon after the incident by a 'safer neighborhood police officer' but that was only after i made enquiries as to what was happening. He was curt on the phone and i now know the info he gave me was incorrect. I dont mind going to the meeting but as long as its held by the Borough Police and not the Safer neighbourhood police. My heartfelt wishes go towards Shelley and her family, Thinking back i know i could have done more but walked into a situation that i never thought i would see.

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lucywells, Harold Wood says...
12:15pm Sun 1 Nov 09

It is so heart breaking to see my auntie Shelley so distressed over this ordeal! Shelley is the most loving, outgoing, funny and beautiful person I know, it breaks my heart to think what she has gone through and that her confidence have been taken away over some **** and his beast of a dog! We need to fight for justice or this dog is going to kill someone next! Shelley, I know whatever happens it can't bring your thumb back but we are going to get through this - stay strong! I love you xxx

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lstock, saffron walden says...
12:21pm Sun 1 Nov 09

this attack happened outside my daughters house and has left all the family traumatised. I too had to complain to the police a year ago about a similar attack on a dog I was walking and the injuries I suffered (no where as bad as Shelleys) again the police were not interested. What will it take for the police to take action on the dog in this attack, a child being killed. Everyone knows the dog involved. Good luck to all the residents at the meeting. Best wishes to Shelly and family and to say well done to all those people who did what they could to comfort her.

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tracywells, Harold Wood says...
1:49pm Sun 1 Nov 09

Hi I'm Shelley's sister. Words cannot describe how sad and angry I am. I cannot believe that anyone would want to own a dog like that. Why would you even contemplate having a dog that could, and obviously does, attack at any time for no reason. Shelley has told me how scared she was when she saw that thing in the middle of the field just running free. She tried to leave the field but that thing got to her and Sid before she could leave. Do you honestly think that going for a walk with your dog would result with such an horrendous incident. My anger at the police is insurmountable, and why are they lying saying that they have carried out a full investigation. They havent even spoken to any of the witnesses or the most important witness, my sister. They have only heard from the Turkish family and their lies.

Shelley is a wonderful sister and I love her with all my heart and I cannot cope with the fact that I could not do anything, I shut my eyes and I can only imagine her screaming and panicking. We are a very close family and for want of better words 'its doing us in'. You just cant believe that its not going to get better. The thumb is gone and it cant come back and something must be done about that dog and its owners. Love you Shelley and justice will be done xxxxxx

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dog walkers, chingford says...
4:37pm Sun 1 Nov 09

Just been to walk my dog as usual, over Larkswood fields and who do I see? The anatolian shepherd dog. I thought the owners were told by the police not to walk their dog over these fields. Probably another lie! Can't beleive the owners of the dog are behaving as if nothing has happened. Even this afternoon he was struggling to control the monster!

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Kangal87, London says...
5:52pm Sun 1 Nov 09

dog walkers wrote:
Just been to walk my dog as usual, over Larkswood fields and who do I see? The anatolian shepherd dog. I thought the owners were told by the police not to walk their dog over these fields. Probably another lie! Can't beleive the owners of the dog are behaving as if nothing has happened. Even this afternoon he was struggling to control the monster!

Actually mate the dog you saw today was my anatolian shepherd, which was at larkswood park with my other dog which is a german shepherd itself. My cousin was walking the dogs there, and several people jumped at him warning him that he shouldnt be at this park............

So for your information, and all other people on here, my anatolian shepherd, and my german shepherd will be walked at larkswood park regardless

As for what happened to the victim, I feel extreme symapthy, and wish a speedy, sucessful recovery to her, and her family.

My dogs have been walked at this park for around a year now, and have had absolutely zero issues. Anatolian shepherds are the calmest of any dog, you can not train them to attack and protect. They are dogs which will only attack if they sense genuine danger, so i cannot understand what happened on Larkswood that day of the incident.

I am a resident of Hatch Lane, and walk my dog often around the area, and absolutely every neighbour of mine is able to stroke him and pat him as they like as he is extremely friendly.

And finally, as for your comment which says the dog was out of control today at the park..... i think you need glasses because my dog is never an issue to control.

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Kangal87, London says...
6:18pm Sun 1 Nov 09

Just to make it absolutely clear (which i didnt above), the anatolian shepherd dog which was at larkswood today, is NOT the dog which was involved in the incident, and therefore i am not the person which owned that dog.

I just wanted to inform you that the dog which was at Larkswood today was mine, and not the dog involved in the attach as somebody assumed above.....

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emlarkswood, Chingford says...
7:10pm Sun 1 Nov 09

If this is the case then as you can prob guess feelings are running high at the moment as a parent of a child that witnessed the attack the dog in question ran across the field and attacked with no provocation as was witnessed by numerous other people and has been seen before this behaving in a worrying manner, we as many other dog walkers are very concerned and worried about walking our dogs at the moment and the dog owner in question has been seen to show no remorse as to what happened.

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simark123, loughton says...
7:38pm Sun 1 Nov 09

i cannot believe that an innocent women out walking her dog can be subjected to a horrific crime like this and no action be taken?And yes a crime has been comitted as the ignorant owner of this vicious animal should have it muzzled if taking it out in a public place let alone letting it run wild in a park where children play!These dogs are trained to attack wolves in turkey and i think the people of chingford should be very wary of both owner and dog. My heart goes out to shelley and i think the police owe it to her to seek justice.

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emlarkswood, Chingford says...
7:56pm Sun 1 Nov 09

RE;Kangla87
I am the husband of emlarkswood

May i just say if this is true - as the person who firstly spoke to your cousin i apologise and please relay this to your cousin and family.
But as my wife has already commented feelings are running high and the community is still very shocked and concernd for the safety and well being of their freinds and familes alike.The problem is with what seems like the lack of support and protection the police have seemed to have shown not only to the victim but to the community as a whole and has left poeple like myself with a dilema and a need to protect those that the law should.
And as dog lover you are right the owner is at fault and not the dog.
Having spoke with the police officer who was first at the scene of the attack i am no better asured that they are empowerd to protect us the public from any such attack from happening again. This was mistaken idenitiy and for that again i apologise.

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LeighnJayBWD, Brentwood says...
8:14pm Sun 1 Nov 09

Having just read all the comments I can't believe the dogs owner hasn't had the dog destroyed. How can any descent person sleep at night knowing that their dog is capable of this is beyond me. A small child would not stand a chance against this dog, I beg the police and the dog owner to do the right thing and put an end to this.

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chingford20, ching says...
10:38pm Sun 1 Nov 09

where did this happen??????

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srum, Epping says...
12:03am Mon 2 Nov 09

As friends of Shelley and her family we are deeply saddened to think that they are having to live such a horrendous ordeal. Shelley's dog is a family dog with an extremely loving and beautiful temperament...(which is a reflection of Shelley, Sean and their family). The most sickening thing is that instead of being able to focus on recovery, Shelley and her family are having to fight for justice beacuse the police are too ***** lazy to do their job. The police should stop giving pathetic excuses and for once do their job. Shelley is a victim of a crime and she should be reassured that the matter is being appropriately dealt with so that she can focus her attention on recovery. If this dog attacks again, then the police will have blood on their hands as well as the owner! .....Shelley & Sean, our full support and love is with you xxx

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bossboy, woodford green says...
7:58am Mon 2 Nov 09

after reading this terrible story i cant believe that nothing is going to happen to the owner of this uncontrolable dog,thats what it is.. if you cant call your dog back from 50 yards any dog should be kept on a lead,I just hope that this poor women gets her justice...christina from woodford green

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Jen, Clayhall, Essex, Clayhall says...
10:22am Mon 2 Nov 09

chingford20 wrote:
it can only be one of two breeds.....staff or pitbull?? maybe a staff pitball cross?? it scares me that this could happen,as i would protect my dog in a heartbeat.i wonder wher abouts this happened?

After reading this horrendous story .. I am along with everyone else sickened that the beast of a dog hasn't been seized following this attack! If the beast was to attack again, the next victim could be a small child that wouldn't stand a chance of escaping and the dog could kill, so police for god sake re-open this case and put everyone to rest by doing what should've been done in the first place - seize the dog, then prosecute the owners to or at least to STOP them from ever owning a dog again! Also, myself owning two Staffordshire Bull Terriers who like Shelley's dog are both softies, who love all people & dogs, I always respect other dogs and owners when their on their leads, and always put my two on their leads which makes me and my family responsible dog owners unlike the owner of this beast! Also, I must respond to the above as it's people like you that continue to give staffs a bad name - did you know that the Kennel Club recommends both staffs and labradors when prospective dog owners are looking in to buying a dog to be around kiddies! Also, a second person had replied to say that the attack wasn't caused by a staff it was indeed a big fighting dog - NOT A STAFF!!!!!!!!!!
Shelley, my heart goes out to you, and the family, be strong and continue to be a fun person, don't let anyone take your fun spirit away! x

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Wadsy_Ruby, Romford says...
1:52pm Mon 2 Nov 09

What a total disgrace from start to finish, from the gutless so called man of an owner who not only stood by and watch this unfold then run off, pathetic, I really hope one day when he is in so much trouble nobody comes to his help. Simple facts dog has to be put down (more then owner's fault then the dog for letting it off the lead) and this idiot needs to be done by the police, otherwise its setting a stall for more people to act however they like with dangerous animals.

Keep you head up Shell I am sure justice will be served in the end, just keep on fighting x

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Bleep, W'stow says...
1:52pm Mon 2 Nov 09

This is terrible and our thoughts are with Shell.
Surely after the meeting the Police will see sense and charge the owner and destroy the dog.
There seems to be alot of witnesses and perhaps they could take signed statements to the meeting to hand to the police representative. Under section 3 (1) of the dangerous dogs act the owner and the person in charge of the dog at the time can be prosecuted if 'the dog is out of control in a public place' the dog does'nt even have to injure someone so the excuse the police are currently using is just not good enough.

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Sleuthy, Loughton says...
3:14pm Mon 2 Nov 09

I think the lady who was injured should raise this to the attention of the national press. This will embarrass the police to do something one would hope

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Spicy, Catford says...
4:09pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Run Off!!!! Are you winding me up! A poor defenceless woman is trying to protect her big softie Sid when this THING Attacks them both.

Owner and MUTT Should both be put down in my eyes and I hope they get what is due to them.

Justice for Shelly.

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amyrowe, Brentwood says...
4:39pm Mon 2 Nov 09

I can't believe the police have closed this case - there are witnesses who clearly saw this horrific attack! Action needs to be taken to ensure that no-one else suffers the same ordeal as Mrs Bowen. Next time it could be even worse or the dog could attack a child.

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sheridans, chingford says...
5:41pm Mon 2 Nov 09

JUSTICE FOR SHELLEY

Shelley is a very special friend of mine im absoloutley devasted for the horrific attack she expierienced whilst walking he big softie sid. It will take her a very long time to get over the terrible attack. shelley has a very supportive family and friends and we will do everythinkg for her to get the justice she deserves.
love you lots xxx

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ChrissieG, Winchmore Hill says...
8:34pm Mon 2 Nov 09

This was a horrific attack on an innocent dog walker, there for the grace of god go any one of us. The owner of this dog is reckless, callous and should never be allowed to own a dog like this. These dogs are huge and powerful and always seek to dominate other male dogs. Male dogs in particular should never be allowed off the lead, any breeder or responsible owner would say this and as a regular visitor to Crufts I have been told this on many occassions by the owners showing these dogs. The Police have been reprehensible in their lack of understanding over what is a very serious incident and have behaved very badly indeed. A senior officer ought to review this investigation as a matter of urgency. Shelly will now be permanently disabled and be in pain both physically and mentally for a long time to come. The poor girl and her family have to face this on a daily basis and the fear of not knowing how this will all end is awful for them all. To think the owner of this dog is going about his daily life and even still taking the dog out in public is beyond comprehension. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE NOW TO STOP THIS HAPPENING. The Police have a duty to local people to ensure nothing like this ever happens again with this animal (the ownder and the dog) they must be held resposible for what has happened to Shelly who is the innocent victim in this tragedy.

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ChrissieG, Winchmore Hill says...
8:54pm Mon 2 Nov 09

This was a horrific attack on an innocent dog walker, there for the grace of god go any one of us. The owner of this dog is reckless, callous and should never be allowed to own a dog like this. These dogs are huge and powerful and always seek to dominate other male dogs. Male dogs in particular should never be allowed off the lead, any breeder or responsible owner would say this and as a regular visitor to Crufts I have been told this on many occassions by the owners showing these dogs. The Police have been reprehensible in their lack of understanding over what is a very serious incident and have behaved very badly indeed. A senior officer ought to review this investigation as a matter of urgency. Shelly will now be permanently disabled and be in pain both physically and mentally for a long time to come. The poor girl and her family have to face this on a daily basis and the fear of not knowing how this will all end is awful for them all. To think the owner of this dog is going about his daily life and even still taking the dog out in public is beyond comprehension. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE NOW TO STOP THIS HAPPENING. The Police have a duty to local people to ensure nothing like this ever happens again with this animal (the ownder and the dog) they must be held resposible for what has happened to Shelly who is the innocent victim in this tragedy.

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dingers, chingford says...
9:06pm Mon 2 Nov 09

The Police have informed me today that they HAVE re-opened the case. Shelley and myself feel this decision was made due to the power of numbers, namely you kind supportive friends of ours, old & new alike. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts!!!xxx The fight for our neighbours and friends safety continues......

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A & W, clayhall says...
10:11pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Having read all the previous comments on this terrible incident, can the police confirm what would of happened if it was a police officer that was so innocently attacked and watched by many witnesses???
Would there be an element of uncreditability of the police officer's account as to what dog tore the thumb from the wrist as seems to be in the case of Shelley Bowen as she seems to be viewed as an uncreditable witness as to what dog tore her thumb off!
Are we now saying that it is ok for any cititizen to come out of their house innocently and be involved in a vicious attack through no fault of their own, lose a limb, or at worst your life, and the appointed body of protection of the public who are the police, blatently can not be bothered to take any action.
We should remind the police that usually she walks her dog with her young son, just 11 years old, and if this had happened whilst he was with her, how terrible this incident would have turned out, as he may of tried to intervene on the attack and thus rendering his physical safey in peril.
We hear enough of dogs attacking young children, how long do we have to wait before an incident occurs as in this case, a dog attacking another dog has attacked an adult and possibly a child before the police are going to take any action, unless its one of their own!!!!

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Shazzbot, HIghams Park says...
10:56pm Mon 2 Nov 09

Kangal87, thanks for providing your whereabouts on Hatch Lane, the police are homing in on you as I write. You know full well that 42 New Road no longer houses the attacking dog, and thank you so much for letting us all know where it is now.

Kangal is the Turkish name for this breed, and we now all know what your birth year was.

Congratulations! You thought that anonymous postings on a newspaper forum would let you put lies out into the community without question. However, you didn't count on the sensibilities of the local population. There aren't two dogs of the same breed, there is only one which has been shifted from one family to another member of the same family. And that dog is the one who attacked a human being, and your crocodile tears at her situation are gut-wrenchingly sickening.

If you had a shred of human decency you'd put that dog down yourself. As a dog owner myself (as you know full well, you had a go at me while I was leatfletting New Road yesterday) it makes me sick to think about a dog being killed. The dog isn't the problem, you and your family are. Your attitude, expressed in your statement "Anatolian shepherds are the calmest of any dog, you can not train them to attack and protect" is disgusting. You know better than anyone here that your dog breed is what is used in Turkey for dog fighting, like pit bulls are used in this country. Going back several decades, Anatolian Shephers have been used for many years to protect the sheep and goat flocks from bears and wolves. To say, as you have done, that "you can not train them to attack" is WRONG WRONG WRONG. That is exactly what your dog has been bred to do.

You are caught, darling, and you will be tried, and found wanting. Your dog WILL be destroyed and you and your entire family are anathema (look it up, I'm sure that's a big word you aren't familiar with) to everyone in the entire borough. And if you come anywhere near Wednesday's meeting, you will find out first hand how unwanted you are in the human community.

Kangal87, thanks for providing your whereabouts on Hatch Lane, the police are homing in on you as I write. You know full well that 42 New Road no longer houses the attacking dog, and thank you so much for letting us all know where it is now. Kangal is the Turkish name for this breed, and we now all know what your birth year was. Congratulations! You thought that anonymous postings on a newspaper forum would let you put lies out into the community without question. However, you didn't count on the sensibilities of the local population. There aren't two dogs of the same breed, there is only one which has been shifted from one family to another member of the same family. And that dog is the one who attacked a human being, and your crocodile tears at her situation are gut-wrenchingly sickening. If you had a shred of human decency you'd put that dog down yourself. As a dog owner myself (as you know full well, you had a go at me while I was leatfletting New Road yesterday) it makes me sick to think about a dog being killed. The dog isn't the problem, you and your family are. Your attitude, expressed in your statement "Anatolian shepherds are the calmest of any dog, you can not train them to attack and protect" is disgusting. You know better than anyone here that your dog breed is what is used in Turkey for dog fighting, like pit bulls are used in this country. Going back several decades, Anatolian Shephers have been used for many years to protect the sheep and goat flocks from bears and wolves. To say, as you have done, that "you can not train them to attack" is WRONG WRONG WRONG. That is exactly what your dog has been bred to do. You are caught, darling, and you will be tried, and found wanting. Your dog WILL be destroyed and you and your entire family are anathema (look it up, I'm sure that's a big word you aren't familiar with) to everyone in the entire borough. And if you come anywhere near Wednesday's meeting, you will find out first hand how unwanted you are in the human community.

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Andy Lundlack, Wanstead says...
12:10am Tue 3 Nov 09

I know what you mean Shazzbot but you know what they say when it comes to the Police?:-

When an Anatolian Wolf Killer is not engaged in his employment
Or maturing his felonious little plan
His capacity for innocent enjoyment
Is just as great as any honest man
Our feelings we with difficulty smother
When constabulary duties to be done
Taking one consideration with another
A policeman's lot is not a happy one

When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
Benbow and Sharons lot is not a happy one

When the Anatolian Beast is not a-biting
When the Jaws ain't occupied in crime
He loves to hear the Councillors a-moaning
And listen to the Chingford village chime
When the Monster is finished jumping on another
He loves to lie a-basking in the sun
Taking one consideration with another
Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one
When the Savage DOG shows no sign of where his owner went
He nobly bids all other dogs farewell
When the juvenile delinquent to the clink went
He hung his mother's picture in his cell
When Loakes finished selling out his Grandmother
He buys a rattle for his little son
Taking one consideration with another
Old Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one
When constabulary duties to be done, to be done
Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one

I know what you mean Shazzbot but you know what they say when it comes to the Police?:- When an Anatolian Wolf Killer is not engaged in his employment Or maturing his felonious little plan His capacity for innocent enjoyment Is just as great as any honest man Our feelings we with difficulty smother When constabulary duties to be done Taking one consideration with another A policeman's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Benbow and Sharons lot is not a happy one When the Anatolian Beast is not a-biting When the Jaws ain't occupied in crime He loves to hear the Councillors a-moaning And listen to the Chingford village chime When the Monster is finished jumping on another He loves to lie a-basking in the sun Taking one consideration with another Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When the Savage DOG shows no sign of where his owner went He nobly bids all other dogs farewell When the juvenile delinquent to the clink went He hung his mother's picture in his cell When Loakes finished selling out his Grandmother He buys a rattle for his little son Taking one consideration with another Old Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one
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I know what you mean Shazzbot but you know what they say when it comes to the Police?:- When an Anatolian Wolf Killer is not engaged in his employment Or maturing his felonious little plan His capacity for innocent enjoyment Is just as great as any honest man Our feelings we with difficulty smother When constabulary duties to be done Taking one consideration with another A policeman's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Benbow and Sharons lot is not a happy one When the Anatolian Beast is not a-biting When the Jaws ain't occupied in crime He loves to hear the Councillors a-moaning And listen to the Chingford village chime When the Monster is finished jumping on another He loves to lie a-basking in the sun Taking one consideration with another Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When the Savage DOG shows no sign of where his owner went He nobly bids all other dogs farewell When the juvenile delinquent to the clink went He hung his mother's picture in his cell When Loakes finished selling out his Grandmother He buys a rattle for his little son Taking one consideration with another Old Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one I know what you mean Shazzbot but you know what they say when it comes to the Police?:- When an Anatolian Wolf Killer is not engaged in his employment Or maturing his felonious little plan His capacity for innocent enjoyment Is just as great as any honest man Our feelings we with difficulty smother When constabulary duties to be done Taking one consideration with another A policeman's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Benbow and Sharons lot is not a happy one When the Anatolian Beast is not a-biting When the Jaws ain't occupied in crime He loves to hear the Councillors a-moaning And listen to the Chingford village chime When the Monster is finished jumping on another He loves to lie a-basking in the sun Taking one consideration with another Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When the Savage DOG shows no sign of where his owner went He nobly bids all other dogs farewell When the juvenile delinquent to the clink went He hung his mother's picture in his cell When Loakes finished selling out his Grandmother He buys a rattle for his little son Taking one consideration with another Old Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one When constabulary duties to be done, to be done Ol Benbow and Sharon's lot is not a happy one Quote » | Report this post »

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Kangal87, London says...
3:01am Tue 3 Nov 09

Shazzbot wrote:
Kangal87, thanks for providing your whereabouts on Hatch Lane, the police are homing in on you as I write. You know full well that 42 New Road no longer houses the attacking dog, and thank you so much for letting us all know where it is now.

Kangal is the Turkish name for this breed, and we now all know what your birth year was.

Congratulations! You thought that anonymous postings on a newspaper forum would let you put lies out into the community without question. However, you didn't count on the sensibilities of the local population. There aren't two dogs of the same breed, there is only one which has been shifted from one family to another member of the same family. And that dog is the one who attacked a human being, and your crocodile tears at her situation are gut-wrenchingly sickening.

If you had a shred of human decency you'd put that dog down yourself. As a dog owner myself (as you know full well, you had a go at me while I was leatfletting New Road yesterday) it makes me sick to think about a dog being killed. The dog isn't the problem, you and your family are. Your attitude, expressed in your statement "Anatolian shepherds are the calmest of any dog, you can not train them to attack and protect" is disgusting. You know better than anyone here that your dog breed is what is used in Turkey for dog fighting, like pit bulls are used in this country. Going back several decades, Anatolian Shephers have been used for many years to protect the sheep and goat flocks from bears and wolves. To say, as you have done, that "you can not train them to attack" is WRONG WRONG WRONG. That is exactly what your dog has been bred to do.

You are caught, darling, and you will be tried, and found wanting. Your dog WILL be destroyed and you and your entire family are anathema (look it up, I'm sure that's a big word you aren't familiar with) to everyone in the entire borough. And if you come anywhere near Wednesday's meeting, you will find out first hand how unwanted you are in the human community.

Actually mate, ive been living in Hatch Lane for 2 years now, and my dog has nothing to do with the dog involved in the incident..... this can be proved in a million different ways, so what your saying is actually a load of b*llsh*t, and in all honesty has no validity to me.

You might want to get your facts right before you come on public websites and blabber on about something your unsure of.

My dog was at Larkswood again today, and as per usual, had no issues with anybody, or any other dog. And once again, i will walk my dogs to Larkswood whenever i feel like doing so, and theres absolutely nothing you, or any other public authority can do about it. Just because a bad experience has occurred with another anatolian shepherd, you cannot try and slate mine....

And finally, for your information, i have spoken to a police officer today who called me to confirm that i am the owner of ANOTHER anatolian shepherd in the chingford area.......... If that doesnt comfort you, then feel free to contact the police, or speak to the officers at the meeting on wednesday.

[quote][p][bold]Shazzbot[/bold] wrote: Kangal87, thanks for providing your whereabouts on Hatch Lane, the police are homing in on you as I write. You know full well that 42 New Road no longer houses the attacking dog, and thank you so much for letting us all know where it is now. Kangal is the Turkish name for this breed, and we now all know what your birth year was. Congratulations! You thought that anonymous postings on a newspaper forum would let you put lies out into the community without question. However, you didn't count on the sensibilities of the local population. There aren't two dogs of the same breed, there is only one which has been shifted from one family to another member of the same family. And that dog is the one who attacked a human being, and your crocodile tears at her situation are gut-wrenchingly sickening. If you had a shred of human decency you'd put that dog down yourself. As a dog owner myself (as you know full well, you had a go at me while I was leatfletting New Road yesterday) it makes me sick to think about a dog being killed. The dog isn't the problem, you and your family are. Your attitude, expressed in your statement "Anatolian shepherds are the calmest of any dog, you can not train them to attack and protect" is disgusting. You know better than anyone here that your dog breed is what is used in Turkey for dog fighting, like pit bulls are used in this country. Going back several decades, Anatolian Shephers have been used for many years to protect the sheep and goat flocks from bears and wolves. To say, as you have done, that "you can not train them to attack" is WRONG WRONG WRONG. That is exactly what your dog has been bred to do. You are caught, darling, and you will be tried, and found wanting. Your dog WILL be destroyed and you and your entire family are anathema (look it up, I'm sure that's a big word you aren't familiar with) to everyone in the entire borough. And if you come anywhere near Wednesday's meeting, you will find out first hand how unwanted you are in the human community.[/p][/quote]Actually mate, ive been living in Hatch Lane for 2 years now, and my dog has nothing to do with the dog involved in the incident..... this can be proved in a million different ways, so what your saying is actually a load of b*llsh*t, and in all honesty has no validity to me. You might want to get your facts right before you come on public websites and blabber on about something your unsure of. My dog was at Larkswood again today, and as per usual, had no issues with anybody, or any other dog. And once again, i will walk my dogs to Larkswood whenever i feel like doing so, and theres absolutely nothing you, or any other public authority can do about it. Just because a bad experience has occurred with another anatolian shepherd, you cannot try and slate mine.... And finally, for your information, i have spoken to a police officer today who called me to confirm that i am the owner of ANOTHER anatolian shepherd in the chingford area.......... If that doesnt comfort you, then feel free to contact the police, or speak to the officers at the meeting on wednesday.

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Kangal87, London says...
3:28am Tue 3 Nov 09

Oh, and to add to my above post, the owner of the dog which was involved in the incident, is not my family member in any way shape or form. I know the dog, and its owner from Larkswood, as my dogs (Anatolian Shepherd, and a German Shepherd) use to have a run about with his dog there.

I find it gut wrenching that you can come on this forum, and throw such ignorant accusations without even having the knowledge to do so.

If you would like to see my Anatolian Shepherd to be 100% convinced that it wasnt the dog involved in the incident, i have no problem in bringing him out for anyone to see. Any witness which was at the scene will be able to tell you the difference between my dog, and the dog involved in the incident (My dog is much skinnier, and isnt as large). As i said, this is just so you, or anyone else can be at comfort that i am not currently looking after anybody elses dog, other than my own.

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Vicky123, London says...
8:17am Tue 3 Nov 09

At last, the police have now re-opened the investigation, Shelley has given a statement and hopefully the police will interview all the witnesses who were at the dreadful scene. Please God the truth will now come out, the vicious beast (I refuse to call it a dog) will be destroyed and the owner will be prosecuted, not only for what happened on that awful afternoon but for all the lying and totally inhuman behaviour he has show since. Shelley is my beautiful niece and what she and the whole family are suffering is beyond words, but the wonderful support from her friends and neighbours is truly appreciated. Love you always, darling. ****

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pbeatty, highams Park says...
7:17pm Tue 3 Nov 09

I have been reading all the comments that are on this site and obviously feelings are running very high. As I have started previously I have looked into this breed of dog and it can go into attack mode. Anyone who owns a dog should look at to what each breed is like , and assess whether that dog is right for your household and whether you can control and teach that breed. Everyone thinks they know what their dog is like and as an owner of a Staff should know that all dogs including mine can be unpredictable. I do not blame the dog in question. I would look at myself as a responsible owner. If you take a dog out to a public area YOU are the person in control of that animal and if you can not control that animal measures should be taken - DONT LET IT OFF A LEAD or PUT A MUZZLE ON IT WHEN IN PUBLIC. Either of these two things would have prevented this from happening.I can not understand how any person can not have remorse for what has happened, when they say shelley has lost a Thumb I dont think people fully understand her injuries. This was ripped from her hand not just bitten off at the tip. She has had to have bone and Skin grafts on this, let alone the intense reconstruction for the following year (at least) she has to go through.Let alone the mental torture she faces or the fact that her life will now have to alter so much .This wasnt just a accident, this is a person who was neglectful of his responsibilities. The owner and the son (who was out with the dog) should be banned from having any more animals because they did not control it. If you read statements where was he when his dog run across the field to attack her, where was he when his dog was attacking her, and why was he shouting at her when her thumb had been ripped off. The responsibility and blame lies with him. It gives other people who look after and love their dogs and take all the neccesary precautions when out with thier dogs a bad name.I hope that this is brought to justice and they are stopped from allowing this to happen again to anyone else. If the dog has been moved to another address I hope the person that they have given it to is more responsible than them and if you are reading any of these posts you will own up and take responsibilty for your actions. My heart goes out to shelley, I cannot imagine what torment goes through her each time she closes her eyes - we are all here for you Love always xxxxx

I have been reading all the comments that are on this site and obviously feelings are running very high. As I have started previously I have looked into this breed of dog and it can go into attack mode. Anyone who owns a dog should look at to what each breed is like , and assess whether that dog is right for your household and whether you can control and teach that breed. Everyone thinks they know what their dog is like and as an owner of a Staff should know that all dogs including mine can be unpredictable. I do not blame the dog in question. I would look at myself as a responsible owner. If you take a dog out to a public area YOU are the person in control of that animal and if you can not control that animal measures should be taken - DONT LET IT OFF A LEAD or PUT A MUZZLE ON IT WHEN IN PUBLIC. Either of these two things would have prevented this from happening.I can not understand how any person can not have remorse for what has happened, when they say shelley has lost a Thumb I dont think people fully understand her injuries. This was ripped from her hand not just bitten off at the tip. She has had to have bone and Skin grafts on this, let alone the intense reconstruction for the following year (at least) she has to go through.Let alone the mental torture she faces or the fact that her life will now have to alter so much .This wasnt just a accident, this is a person who was neglectful of his responsibilities. The owner and the son (who was out with the dog) should be banned from having any more animals because they did not control it. If you read statements where was he when his dog run across the field to attack her, where was he when his dog was attacking her, and why was he shouting at her when her thumb had been ripped off. The responsibility and blame lies with him. It gives other people who look after and love their dogs and take all the neccesary precautions when out with thier dogs a bad name.I hope that this is brought to justice and they are stopped from allowing this to happen again to anyone else. If the dog has been moved to another address I hope the person that they have given it to is more responsible than them and if you are reading any of these posts you will own up and take responsibilty for your actions. My heart goes out to shelley, I cannot imagine what torment goes through her each time she closes her eyes - we are all here for you Love always xxxxx

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bobnjo, chingford says...
7:18pm Wed 4 Nov 09

After attending the meeting today,i am in shock that NO-ONE knows the where abouts of this dog,and why has it been moved from the family home if they dont think theres a problem with their dog,also where ever the dog is now ,is it being muzzled when out in public.shelley and her family deserve to know where and what is happening to the dog for there own piece of mind,and justice needs to be done,people dont seem to understand the long effect of this terrible attack,and how it is going to affect shelley and her family ,our thoughts are with you both,xxx lets hope justice will be served s&j

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