EPPING: Savage dog owner offers to have animal put down (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

EPPING: Savage dog owner offers to have animal put down

5:48pm Friday 10th February 2012 in Epping Forest News By Tom Porter

A MAN whose dog was mauled by an out of control Great Dane in a park has described how the attacker’s owner tearfully offered to have his animal put down.

On Friday, February 3, Clifford Norton, 40, was walking his Labrador in Bell Common, Epping, when the Great Dane attacked.

The Labrador required an operation to treat serious injuries to its neck and Mr Norton was left with a £500 vet’s bill.

The police initially refused to investigate the incident, but following a report in the Guardian offered Mr Norton a full apology and issued an appeal for witnesses.

Then, later today, the owner of the dog visited Mr Norton in his office in Epping High Street in tears.

Mr Norton, who lives in Bury Road, Epping, said: “It has been quite a day.

“In a week the police have gone from not taking the incident seriously at all to being very apologetic.

“Then later the owner of the Great Dane came in. He was in tears when he saw my dog’s injuries and the girl’s in the office were in tears when he offered to have his dog put down.

“He said he had earphones on during the attack so did not hear me shouting at him. He said if their dog can do that they are not happy having it around their three young children.

“I think they were as upset as I am about the state of my dog.”

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