Hello everyone: my family and I want to thank you for your condolence messages following the attack on our 15-year-old blind dog Zoey in Norwood Park. Your kindness has made us feel very supported & much less alone.
Over the past week, thanks to the decency and goodness of local residents, police have been given extensive details on the people who did this, including their names, location, and information on previous attacks.
We are concerned that Zoey’s killing seems to be only the latest in a serious of brutal attacks, and without police taking this matter seriously the attacks will continue and worsen. It is too late for our Zoey, and for our family, but it is not too late to stop it happening to someone else.
We have repeatedly reached out to the police (crime report number 1214713/2) and to our MP Helen Hayes, as well as to the dog wardens in Croydon and Lambeth, but are yet to hear back from them. Councillor Pete Elliottt has been very responsive and assured us of help. Steve Reed MP has been contacted by his constituents and says he will help.
We believe that the killer dogs include Red Nosed Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes. These dogs are illegal under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. They should not be in our midst mauling our beloved pets, injuring people, threatening children, and making us unsafe in our green spaces. We have been told that the man in the picture has up to 8 dogs, and that they are abused and trained to be aggressive. It has been alleged by multiple people that the man has a history of violence and is known to the police. And that his dogs have attacked other dogs and even children.
The people and their dogs are allegedly regularly seen at: Westow Hill, Crystal Palace Park, Wells Park, Gipsy Road, Upper Norwood Recreation Ground, South Norwood Lake, Ashburton Park, Addiscombe, Lower Sydenham, Betts Park, Crown Point, and Biggin Hill.
They are seen off leash and unmuzzled, and when they attack the owner blames the victim and flees.
What you can do:
- Call the police if you see the people and dogs in the attached article. Quote crime report 1214713/2. Contact the police if you have had an encounter with them in the past.
- Write to your local MP, e.g. Helen Hayes (helen.hayes.mp@parliament.uk), Steve Reed (steve.reed.mp@parliament.uk), and to your councillors.
- Write to Croydon’s dog warden (doginfo@croydon.gov.uk) and Lambeth (animalwelfare@lambeth.gov.uk)
- Sign and circulate our petition which already has nearly 3,000 signatures from members of our community. https://www.change.org/p/mayor-ban-dangerous-dogs?recruiter=36928561&recruited_by_id=8b2ad770-2c15-0130-92e7-3c764e04873b&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=petition_dashboard
Thank you for standing with us. We are so grateful to you.