Rochester dog attack prompts police investigation

CCTV footage showed the large, white dog carrying out the attack

Police are investigating after a woman's dog was attacked by another dog, that she described as a dangerously out of control.

Diane Wallington from Rochester was walking three dogs, when a large dog attacked her 12-year-old Jack Russell, Wolfie, which later had to be put down.

CCTV shows the dog dragging its owner across the road to attack Wolfie.

After a passer-by sprayed the dog with water, Wolfie escaped but was hit by a car while running away on 18 December.

The dog's injuries were so severe that it had to be euthanised.

Diane Wallington said she could not do anything for her 12-year-old Jack Russell, Wolfie

Ms Wallington said: "I was in bits, crying and screaming for help, just complete panic. I just couldn't get him away.

"I was saying to a person 'get your dog off mine'. And that's when everybody rushed in to help.

"I felt horrendous. I felt absolutely hopeless. I couldn't do anything for my dog.

"The impact has led me to have counselling and I keep having nightmares and it's with me every day.

"I'm just heartbroken. I've lost my boy."

Diane Wallington said she was screaming for help and in complete panic

Dog behaviourist Carolyn Monteith said: "Pre-lockdown, we had around nine million dogs in the UK and now we're on about 13 million dogs in the UK, so we've got this massive increase in the number of dogs.

"I suspect the percentage of dog attacks hasn't risen, but we've just got more dogs out there."

She said many of those dog owners were people whose working lives had never let them have a dog before.

Wolfie later had to be euthanised

District Commander for Medway, Ch Insp Trevor Jenner, said police were investigating a report of a dog being "dangerously out of control" in Delce Road.

He said: "Our officers attended the scene where they spoke to the victim and witnesses.

"On the same day they visited the owner of the larger dog at their home address. They were informed an investigation was now under way and given strong words of advice."

He said the person responsible for the larger dog would be interviewed under caution.

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